Travel Vaccinations for Laos

Scrub typhus, also known as bush typhus, is a bacterial disease that is spread to people through bites of infected chiggers (larval mites). Common symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, and sometimes rash. It can usually be treated with antibiotics, however people with severe illness may develop organ failure and bleeding, which can be fatal if left untreated.

Zika virus is usually transmitted by the bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito. These mosquitoes are most active during the day, especially during mid-morning, then late afternoon and dusk through to evening. For most people it's a very mild infection with minor or no symptoms, but is more of a risk to pregnant woman as it could result in certain birth defects.

Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes and it causes fever and severe joint pain. Other symptoms include muscle pain, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. Joint pain is often debilitating and can vary in duration. The disease shares some clinical signs with Dengue, and can be misdiagnosed in areas where Dengue is common. There is no cure for the disease. Treatment is focused on relieving the symptoms.

A parasitic disease transmitted by the bite of an infected sandfly. Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (the most common): Causes skin lesions, mainly ulcers on exposed parts of the body, causing scars and serious disability. 90% of cases are in the Americas, the Mediterranean basin, the Middle East and Asia. Visceral Leishmaniasis (the most dangerous): Causes enlarged spleen and liver, anaemia, weight loss and irregular bouts of fever. Highly endemic in the Indian Subcontinent and East Africa. Mucotaneous (the least common): Causes partial or total destruction of the mucous membranes in the nose, mouth and throat. Most cases are found in Peru, Bolivia and Brazil.

Schistosomiasis, also called bilharzia, is an infection caused by a parasitic worm that lives in fresh water in subtropical and tropical regions. Avoid swimming in fresh water rivers, streams and lakes if you can. You often don't have any symptoms at first, but after a few weeks may develop a rash, high temperature, cough, diarrhoea and joint pain. Schistosomiasis can usually be treated successfully with a short course of a medication that kills the worms.