COVID-19
Travel
-Automatic translation
Before departure
You should seek medical advice if you have a chronic condition such as heart disease, asthma, kidney disease, or diabetes.
When people plan to travel, they may need vaccinations. It is good to think about vaccinations and seek advice from the health care staff 2 to 3 months before departure.
The health care information center can advise people if and which vaccinations they need when they go abroad. You can contact online chat Heilsuvera or the Health Care Information Center at 513-1700 for advice.
Vaccinations and further information on them can be obtained from healthcare centers and other parties that have received authorization from the Chief Epidemiologist, e.g. in Vinnuvernd Holtasmára 1, Kópavogur and Heilsuvernd in Urðarhvarfi 14, Kópavogur.
More information about travel vaccinations can be found here: Health Center - Travelers.
International vaccination certificate - WHO (the yellow book, available from your health care provider).
Costs for medical services
The cost of medical care abroad can be very high. Make sure that you are well insured during your travels, i.e. at Iceland Health Insurance.
Recommendations
It is recommended to bring plasters, bandages, insect-repellant ointment, antiseptic layers, and sunscreen. Those who take medication regularly should have enough of the medication with them so that they do not run out during the trip, as if their return home is delayed by a few days.
The sun. The lighter the skin, the greater the risk of burning. Only let the sunshine on your skin for a short time at a time for the first few days. Then you can increase this time a little. Sunscreen reduces the chance of burning.
Fluid loss. If you sweat a lot, your body can lose a lot of water and salt. This can cause headaches, dizziness, weakness, and nausea. This can be prevented by drinking plenty of water and consuming extra salt.
Always wash your hands before eating or cooking food. Use hand sanitizer where you can't wash your hands with soap.
Consider wearing a face mask as social distancing cannot be ensured in large crowds
Drinking water. Check if drinking water is safe to drink. If in doubt, water should be boiled before consumption (3–5 minutes) or disinfected with an iodine solution or chlorine tablets (let it work for 30–60 minutes).
Food. Do not eat raw vegetables and fruits with skins, raw shellfish, ice, or ice cubes. Avoid uncooked or undercooked food. Cold or reheated food can be dangerous. Freshly cooked food is safest.
Fly and insect bites. Use insect-repellent ointments or sprays on parts of the body not covered by clothing. The substance diethyltoluamide (DEET) is the most widely used, cheapest, and most effective insect repellent that can be safely applied to the skin. The strength of the material must be taken care of, 30% is the minimum to protect against insects that can carry diseases, but there is no need to exceed 50% strength. In areas where malaria is endemic, it is important to protect yourself from bites after dark. Mosquito nets treated with insecticide should be used at night.
Animal bite. Bites from animals and even humans can carry a risk of infection. Wound infection is quite common after animal bites, and antibiotics are often given to prevent such an infection. Some diseases can be transmitted through a bite without causing an infection in the wound itself. Rabies is present in many parts of the world, i.e. in some parts of continental Europe. The disease is fatal. You can get rabies if you are bitten or licked by an infected dog, bat, cat, fox, or other animal. If you are bitten or bitten by an animal abroad, you should:
Wash the wound thoroughly with soapy water or rinse the wound.
Contact a doctor. You may need treatment for rabies, and antibiotics are often required after an animal bite.
Contact the owner of the animal, if possible. Make sure the animal is vaccinated against rabies. The owner must be notified if the animal becomes ill or dies within 2 weeks.
Avoid unfamiliar pets as well as wild animals wherever you are.
STDs, including HIV/AIDS, are a threat to human health. The safest advice is to avoid intercourse with strangers. If sexual intercourse is conducted on another level, the condom is protected against sexually transmitted diseases. It is very important to avoid sexual intercourse with people who engage in prostitution. HIV/AIDS has now become significantly widespread among them due to drug use and the number of sexual partners.
Malaria
The disease is endemic in most tropical countries. It is one of the oldest and most widespread diseases of mankind. There are drugs for preventive treatment against malaria, which both have advantages and disadvantages. The drugs should only be used if the risk of malaria is significant, and therefore the need for the use of such drugs varies depending on the destination of the trip. The risk of contracting the disease is significant, especially in Central Africa, and there it is necessary to take antimalarial drugs for prevention. It is important to consult a doctor about the choice of antimalarial drugs. The drugs that come into consideration are:
Malarone is taken once a day during the trip and for a week after returning home. Very suitable for a short stay in a malaria area.
Doxycycline is taken once a day while traveling and for four weeks after returning home. Side effects can include diarrhea and sun eczema. Can replace Malarone.
Remember that the medication must be taken while staying in the area. Avoid mosquito bites. Follow the mosquito bite guidelines above in the general advice text.
Diarrhea
It is estimated that almost half of those who travel to tropical countries get diarrhea during their travels. Prophylactic antibiotics are known to prevent diarrhea. However, it is usually inadvisable to use them for prevention because of their side effects and the risk of intestinal bacteria becoming resistant to the antibiotics.
Travelers' diarrhea can be reduced with a drug (bismuth subsalicylate) that binds to the toxins of certain intestinal bacteria. It should be borne in mind that the substance contains salicylate, which is also in magnyl tablets and can cause poisoning if taken in excessive doses. This medicine is not available in Iceland but is sold over the counter in many parts of the world. In the event of diarrhea, it is appropriate to consume plenty of fluids (a little at a time) that contain glucose and salts. Loperamide hydrochloride (Imodium) and other medications can reduce diarrhea but should not be used if fever or blood accompanies the diarrhea.
It is a good idea to consult a doctor about whether to take antibiotics with you on a trip to treat severe diarrhea. If diarrhea is accompanied by fever or bloody stools, antibiotics should be used for 3–5 days. Regarding protective measures for drinking water, refer to the general recommendations above.
HIV
HIV is an incurable infectious disease caused by a virus. Transmission occurs during sexual intercourse and blood mixing, e.g. when donating blood or using contaminated needles and syringes. The disease is by far the most widespread in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia but is also significantly widespread in the United States and Europe.
You can prevent HIV infection by:
Avoid intercourse with strangers during your travels. The condom reduces the chance of infection.
Never use dirty needles and syringes.
More information about travel vaccinations can be found here:
Service provider
Directorate of Health