Travel Medicine
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|
Country Name |
Republic of South Africa |
|
Continent |
Africa |
|
Surface area |
1,219,090 km2 |
|
Capital |
Pretoria |
|
Population |
55,653,654 (2016) |
|
Language |
English, Afrikaans, Zulu |
|
Currency |
South African Rand (ZAR) |
|
Time zone |
+1hr compared to Italy |
|
Area code for Italy |
0039 |
|
Area code from Italy |
0027 |
There have been no relevant reports in the past 90 days.
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from at-risk countries or travellers who have transited for more than 12 hours at airports in high-risk countries.
Cholera
Cholera is spread by the consumption of contaminated food and water. Vaccination is recommended, especially if you intend to travel to rural areas where the disease is widespread and there is limited access to clean water.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by contaminated food and water, or close physical contact with an infected person, whereas Hepatitis B is transmitted by exposure to infected body fluids and blood.
Infection typically occurs through contact with the saliva of an infected animal, usually caused by bites, scratches or licks near open wounds or mucous membranes (e.g. mouth, nose, eyes). The most common vectors are dogs and bats, but cases of infection in other domestic animals have also been reported.
Caused by toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, the risk of tetanus infection is high throughout the country.
Bacterial in origin, typhoid fever is transmitted through contaminated food and drink, especially in regions with inadequate sanitary conditions.
Malaria is transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitos and is common all-year-round in the low-altitude regions of the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, and in the northeast of the KwaZulu-Natal province. The risk is highest between October and May. As a vaccine is still not available, you must take careful precautions to avoid mosquito bites and in some cases it may be necessary to take antimalarial medication, after thorough evaluation by a qualified doctor.
The following vaccinations are strongly recommended as these diseases can be contracted anywhere in the world. Experts advise that you protect yourself and other travellers by making sure you are up-to-date with all of the recommended vaccinations. This will allow you to travel safely, while minimising the risk of exposure to infection.
The country occupies the southern point of the African continent, and overlooks the Atlantic Ocean to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. It is bordered by Namibia to the northwest, Botswana and Zimbabwe to the north, Mozambique and Swaziland to the northeast, and Lesotho, which is enclaved by South Africa.
The territory consists of a large plateau fragmented by numerous canyons and valleys, with steep escarpments overlooking the coast. Elevations range between 800 and 2,000 metres, with the highest points in the south and southeast, which descend towards the northwest to the Kalahari Basin.
The climate is generally mild, particularly along the south-central coasts, while inland it tends to be drier and takes on more tropical features on the northeast coast. Precipitation is concentrated during the hot and humid summer, between October and April, when severe thunderstorms can occur. Winter is dry and sunny, with temperatures between 15 to 25 °C during the day and 0 to 10 °C at night. The exception is the Cape region, where the climate is Mediterranean, with sunny summers and rainy winters, and strong winds all-year-round.
