The last thing you want on holiday is to put yourself or your family at risk. Certain parts of South Africa and the surrounds are considered high-risk areas for various illnesses — make sure precautions are taken to ensure good health and a happy holiday.

Malaria:

Malaria is still the big one to watch out for in Southern Africa and is prevalent in the following areas:

Precautions:

Mosquitoes are most active between dusk and dawn but you can protect yourself and your family by taking the following precautions:

• Cover up by wearing light, loose clothes with long sleeves and long pants with socks.
• Use roll on mosquito/insect repellant — this is the most effective way to avoid being bitten.
• Keep all windows and doors closed at night
• Spray a safe aerosol insecticide in all the sleeping areas
• Burn mosquito mats
• Sleep under a mosquito net
• Take anti-malaria drugs. Note Anti-malaria drugs are recommended from October to May, and only in high risk areas such as the Kruger National Park and the northern parts of Limpopo and KwaZulu-Natal.

Always consult your doctor or travel clinic before embarking on a course of anti-malaria pills. Talk to a Clicks pharmacist for advice or visit a Clicks clinic especially when extra precaution is required for children under the age of five; the elderly (over 65); expecting mothers; and those suffering from serious or chronic illnesses.

Cholera:

Most of South Africa’s water is safe to drink, however rural areas may not have a nearby treated water supply and this is when it becomes necessary to carry bottled water. Water is not the only source of infection surprisingly a number of food sources, could also be responsible.

"Cholera is a bacterial infection that occurs when eating food and/or drinking water that has been contaminated by Vibrio Cholerae bacterium which lives in fresh water such as rivers and damns," says Willie Jordaan, Pharmacist and Head of Pharmacy and Professional Services for Clicks.

Sources of infection include:

Cholera has many different strains and symptoms can range from mild to severe and can even be fatal. Symptoms include:

• Diarrhoea (very watery or with a fishy odour)
• Dehydration. Signs include dry lips/mouth and skin, extreme thirst, rapid pulse, lethargy, loss of concentration, infrequent and dark urine and sunken fontanelles in babies (the soft spot on top of babies heads).
• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Abdominal cramps