Tropical holiday destinations

More of us than ever before are taking huge health risks by heading for tropical holiday destinations without the necessary precautionary vaccinations, say doctors at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

With the January cold, holiday bookings to tropical destinations are expected to boom this month. But doctors at the school, which is affiliated to the University of Liverpool, are warning that those waiting to make late bookings are risking all, often not leaving themselves sufficient time for essential immunisation against diseases such as malaria and cholera).

They say that visitors to continental Africa, and particularly to Gambia and Kenya, are most at risk and advise travellers to visit their GP at least a month before travelling.

The school has a Travel Health Advice Line providing country specific information on immunisation, malaria and general health advice. For further information phone 0891 172111.