July 2004

We took Trafalgar’s tour No. 159 to Finland, Russia, Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, Sept. 9-24, ’03. The tour cost us $2,560 each, including air from Philadelphia. This was our fourth Trafalgar tour and possibly the last, due mainly to the prices of and number of optional tours this tour had.

Trafalgar’s tour brochure outlined what we were to see on an each-day basis. Each description seemed to be worded so that it was impossible to determine if places mentioned were included in the tour or were optional tours we had to pay extra for.

The “Directory of Clinical Consultants in Tropical Medicine & Travelers’ Health” is a resource for travelers seeking referral to a specialist in tropical medicine and/or travelers’ health, whether for pretravel counseling and immunization or post-travel evaluation, consultation and treatment. The directory, which lists physicians’ office hours and the services they provide, is available at no charge and can also be accessed at www.astmh.org.

To order a copy, contact ASTMH.

The 12th edition of “Health Hints for the Tropics” is available from the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. The 50-page booklet includes the chapters Preparation for Travel; Immunizations; Malaria Prevention; Travelers’ Diarrhea; Special Health Problems; Advice for En Route and After Returning, and References and Resources. Individual copies are $5, postage included.

by John C. Deppman, Fort Meyers, FL (Part 1 of 2)

I always considered Madagascar to be a dream travel destination, and I fervently wanted to visit the island. Having taken previous ecotours to West, East and Southern Africa, I felt I was ready to take on this big island.

As ITN went to press, the State Department had travel warnings on 26 destinations: Haiti, Kenya, Lebanon, Iran, Burundi, Yemen, Israel/West Bank/Gaza, Central African Republic, Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Iraq, Indonesia, Algeria, Libya, Colombia, Afghanistan, Côte d’Ivoire, Pakistan, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, Bosnia, Somalia and Angola.

For details, call the State Department at 202/647-5225 or visit http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html.

According to the World Health Organization, 25 cases of Ebola hemorrhagic fever (EHF), including six deaths, have been reported from Yambio County in southern Sudan.

According to the World Health Organization, as of May 10, 2004, the Ministry of Health of Burkina Faso had reported 25 suspect cases of yellow fever in the districts of Bobo-Dioulasso and Gaoua.

Colombia is requiring visitors to the country’s national parks along the Atlantic coast to show proof of yellow fever vaccination.

The Department of State continues to warn U.S. citizens against travel to Burundi and the surrounding Great Lakes Region.

The U.S. Government continues to receive indications of terrorist threats aimed at American and Western interests in Kenya and throughout East Africa. In particular, there is a continuing threat against Westerners in Nairobi and the coastal region. Americans traveling there should remain vigilant in public places frequented by foreigners and should avoid large crowds.