EGYPT TRIP

Malaria in Egypt is limited only to a small area where travelers rarely go. So unless you will be in the El Faiyûm area, you do not need to take anything to prevent malaria.

As for any immunizations you might need, look at the US CDC information Egypt. Besides recommended immunizations, there is a section on "Items to Bring With You."

Whether or not you should get typhoid or rabies immunization will depend on where you will b and what you will be doing. Hepatitis A is always a good idea. It is spread by contaminated food & drink. You have no control over who has been handling your food, drink, and utensils and how meticulous they are about handwashing.

Hep A is often covered by your health insurance. Otherwise, in the US, your local city or county health department may offer free or low cost hep A shots. Many health departments also do travel immunization and may be the cheapest resource. Some HMOs cover all travel medicine.

I always thought I didn't need hep.B, as I wasn't 'sexually active'. Then my local practise nurse pointed out that if I was in a motor accident I ran the risk of receiving infected blood.
I got that hep.B shot!
As well as the usual recommended medications I suggest taking psyllium husk as a preventive measure against the inevitable Tutankhamun's revenge. Buy it from your local health food shop or - better - from your nearest Pakistani/Indian supermarket where it goes by the name of Sat Isabgol.
I spent 5 weeks in Egypt and Sudan with no gippy tummy at all, cos I took some in advance and a couple of times a week while there.

I always thought I didn't need hep.B, as I wasn't 'sexually active'. Then my local practise nurse pointed out that if I was in a motor accident I ran the risk of receiving infected blood.

Many people get the vaccination for just that reason. Although screening blood for HIV is pretty common, there are countries that do not screen blood supplies for Hep B.

many thanks to you all for your most helpful advice --------------- had all my injections done when I visitied India last year - once again many thanks

AUGUST2004

Don't forget that Hep B may need to be redone after a few years. For some, it is a lifetime thing, others, not so...I just got checked and my Hep B protection is gone! Need another jab.

You can get Hep B many ways...not just via transfusions.

Since this is "older travelers," I'll add that some studies show that people over 50 tend not to respond to Hep B immunization. That is, fewer people who are over 50 develop sufficient antibodies to protect themselves against the disease.

Even in healthy younger people, a significant number do not respond to the vaccine. Some of these will respond after an additional booster.

I wasn't told this! Since I had my hep B jab at over 60, how do I test to see if it 'took'?

You ask your doctor to do a hepatitis B titer/titre (pronounce "tighter.) That's a rest to see what levels of antibodies are circulating in your system.

Thanks, nutrax. Will do.