Does South Africa have an equivalent to the Center for Disease Control?

[grahamsmom98]

Our neighbor and her adult daughter are going to be visiting South Africa sometime in the Spring on a photo safari in several game reserves. They are so excited! They do not have access to a computer (except through me!), and are wondering about immunizations needed for their visit.

The CDC in the US recommends Yellow Fever vaccination and malaria preventative before visiting South Africa. However, I know there have been stronger adverse reactions in folks over 55 from the yellow fever vaccine (neighbor is 63), so she is wondering if that disease is really worth the risk versus the vaccine!

Can anyone point me in the direction of finding out which diseases SHOULD be of concern (to the point of vaccination) to them, as are listed by the South African government? Is yellow fever a real problem? Same with malaria? They are not entirely trusting of our CDC in giving out unbiased information as regards what vaccinations should be given before venturing into foreign areas.

Thanks, in advance, for any info you have!

[MamaDavid]

Hi Grahamsmom
The closest thing Sa has to the CDC is the department of health and they have a website at www.doh.gov.za which is not very useful.

As for the Yellow Fever vaccination - SA is not a yellow fever area, but they are concerned about the disease being brought into SA so if you came into SA from a country that is a yellow fever area (the USA is not) then you are required to prove you have been vaccinated against the disease. They do not need the Yellow fever vac. (See http://home-affairs.pwv.gov.za/visas.asp#req

Parts of SA is a malaria area - if they are going to the Kruger Park they will be entering a malaria area and then they should make a decision on how they want to handle it. (http://www.malaria.org.za/Malaria_Risk/Risk_Maps/risk_maps.htm will give you a nice map as to where malaria occurs and the site seems to have lots of info)

Hope it helps
Helen

PS As for other diseases your risks are probably the same as in the US. I would not worry about getting any vaccinations done. And the SA embassy in the States has a website http://www.saembassy.org if they want to talk to somebody there...