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 Brazil - Health
Although there are no compulsory vaccinations required to enter the country, certain precautions should be taken, certainly if you're staying for any length of time or visiting the more remote regions, such as the Amazon

 

  Although there are no compulsory vaccinations required to enter the country, certain precautions should be taken, certainly if you're staying for any length of time or visiting the more remote regions. Taking out travel insurance is vital, and you should take all possible precautions to guard against AIDS, a major worry in Brazil
Most standard drugs are available in pharmacies, farmácias, which you'll find everywhere - no prescriptions are necessary. A pharmacy will also give injections (you need a tetanus jab if you get bitten by a dog) and free medical advice, and they're a good first line of defence if you fall ill.


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Emergency phone numbers vary from place to place, but you'll always find them listed in phone boxes - look for Bombeiros or Polícia Civil.
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If you are unlucky enough to need medical treatment in Brazil, forget about the public hospitals - as a foreigner you have virtually no chance of getting a bed unless you have an infectious disease, and the level of health care offered by most is appalling. You can get reasonably good medical and dental care privately: North Americans will think it fairly inexpensive, Europeans used to state-subsidized health care will not. A doctor's visit will cost on average US$35-50; drugs are relatively cheap. Local tourist offices and smart hotels in big cities will have lists of English-, French- and German-speaking doctors ; ask for a médico. Outside the larger centres, you will probably have to try out your Portuguese. If a medical emergency occurs in an out-of-the-way location, there's an excellent air ambulance service (tel 011/5506-0606, fax 846-8689) that guarantees collection anywhere in the country within 24 hours of calling. If considering this option be sure to contact your travel insurance company before phoning for a plane.

Many diseases are directly or indirectly related to impure water and contaminated food , and care should be taken over what you eat and drink.

With a little common sense, it's quite easy to establish whether food is fresh or not, and always ensure that it's properly cooked. Special caution should be taken with seafood, especially shellfish - don't eat anything that's at all suspicious. Fruit and salad ingredients should be washed in bottled or purified water or, preferably, peeled. Ultimately you are going to run some risks with food, so if you're going to enjoy your stay to the full, there's no sense in being too paranoid.

Even in the most remote towns and villages mineral water ( água mineral), either sparkling ( com gás) or still ( sem gás), is easily available and cheap. To avoid dehydration be sure to drink plenty of non-alcoholic liquids, always carry a bottle of water on long trips and check that the seal on any bottled water you use is intact.

 

As with food, it's difficult to be on guard all the time; fruit juices are more often than not diluted, at best with only filtered water, and while it is wise to avoid ice in general this is well-nigh impossible
 


 

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