Ruta Quetzal BBVA 2002

MEDICAL NOTE

The Ministry of Health of Spain recommends these vaccinations and preventions for the participants of the Ruta Quetzal 2002 in Panama and Costa Rica:

Vaccinations

It is very important that all participants are properly vaccinated

1.- Yellow Fever:

It is necessary that all participants be vaccinated before entering this endemic zone.
Panama recommends everyone to bring their International Certificate of Vaccinations.

Instructions: One vaccination at least 10 days before starting the trip and one follow-up vaccination every ten years.

2.- Diptheria-Tetanus:

Those people who have received a complete primary cycle of vaccinations will need only a follow-up shot if they haven't had one over the last 10 years.

Para personas que han recibido un ciclo primario de vacunación completo, sólo es necesario una dosis de recuerdo si han pasado mis de 10 años desde la última dosis.

If the participant has never received the vaccination he needs to get the following Vaccinations: one initial shot, another one month later, another one six to twelve months after that and a follow-up shot every ten years.

The Diptheria/tetanus vaccination (Td) is given to people over the age of seven.

3.- Hepatitis B:

Recommended if you have never been vaccinated.

Instructions: A total of three vaccinations: An initial shot, another one a month later and a final one six months later. Shots two months and one year after the initial one are sometimes administered for rapid protection.

4.- Hepatitis A:

Recommended.

Instructions: One initial vaccination and another additional vaccination after 6 to 12 months.

5.- Hepatitis A+B:

If the participant has not been vaccinated before for Hepatitis A or B, it is possible to receive both vaccinations at the same time.
Instructions: Three vaccinations: Initial, Six months later and six to twelve months after that.

6.- Typhoid Fever:

Recommended. It can be injected or received orally.

II. MALARIA

There is no vaccine for this illness. One important recommendation is: Protect yourself against mosquito bites.

As a protection you can use the drug recommended by the WHO: Lariam.

The dosages refer to common 250mg tablets. For prevention, one weekly dose of 5mg/Kg should be taken.

Additional dosages should be determined by weight:

Participants weighing over 45kg, one pill of Lariam should be taken regularly once a week with plenty of water

For the Ruta Quetzal 2002 you must start the day after arriving in Panama (one week before visiting San Blas). Keep taking pills over the duration of the trip and four weeks more after that.

If you feel any side effects you should contact your doctor and stop taking these pills.

IMPORTANT:

The vaccination dosages must be authorized by the International Vaccination Center. The participants will be informed about various preventive measures concerning their health during the trip, including recommendations for food and drink, the use of insect-repellents, etc.