The following vaccines may be recommended for your travel to Mexico and Central America. Discuss your travel plans and personal health with a health-care provider to determine which vaccines you will need.
* Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG). Transmission of hepatitis
A virus can occur through direct person-to-person contact; through exposure
to contaminated water, ice, or shellfish harvested in contaminated water;
or from fruits, vegetables, or other foods that are eaten uncooked and
that were contaminated during harvesting or subsequent handling.
* Hepatitis B, especially if you might be exposed to blood or
body fluids (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact
with the local population, or be exposed through medical treatment.
Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children
ages 11–12 years who did not receive the series as infants.
* Malaria: if you are traveling to a malaria-risk area in this
region, see your health care provider for a prescription antimalarial
drug. For details concerning risk and preventive medications, see Malaria
Information for Travelers to Central America and Mexico.
* Rabies, if you might have extensive unprotected outdoor exposure
in rural areas, such as might occur during camping, hiking, or bicycling,
or engaging in certain occupational activities.
* Typhoid vaccine. Typhoid fever can be contracted through contaminated
drinking water or food, or by eating food or drinking beverages that
have been handled by a person who is infected. Large outbreaks are most
often related to fecal contamination of water supplies or foods sold
by street vendors
* Yellow fever, for travelers to endemic areas in Panama
* As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles.
Some more recommendations by the CDC:
* Long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and a hat to wear whenever
possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects (e.g.,
malaria, Dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis).
* Insect repellent containing DEET.
* Sunblock, sunglasses, and a hat for protection from harmful
effects of UV sun rays.
* Prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last
during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s) or letter
from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that
the medication has been prescribed for you.
* Always carry medications in their original containers, in your
carry-on luggage.
* Be sure to bring along over-the-counter antidiarrheal medication (e.g.,
bismuth subsalicylate, loperamide) and an antibiotic prescribed by your
doctor to self-treat moderate to severe diarrhea. (But these drugs,
along with excellent doctors, are easily available in Playa del Carmen,
so don't worry too much)
In case you
plan to travel to less civilised areas:
*
Flying-insect spray to help clear rooms of mosquitoes. The product
should contain a pyrethroid insecticide; these insecticides quickly
kill flying insects, including mosquitoes.
* Iodine tablets and portable water filters to purify water if
bottled water is not available. See Preventing Cryptosporidiosis: A
Guide to Water Filters and Bottled Water for more detailed information.
*
Bed nets treated with permethrin. For use and purchasing information,
see Insecticide Treated Bednets on the CDC malaria site. Overseas, permethrin
or another insecticide, deltamethrin, may be purchased to treat bed
nets and clothes.