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Thailand is one of the safest
countries in the region for the traveler. The risk of
contracting illness or disease is minimal provided basic care is
taken over food, water and sexual contacts
Both public and private hospitals are available in Thailand.
Queues and waits are generally longer in the public hospitals.
For travelers, medical insurance is advisable. In Bangkok and the major towns, hospitals are clean, modern and
offer a good standard of treatment and service. The doctors are
generally able to speak English and many are overseas educated.
Smaller towns may only have a single provincial hospital, and
villages a local clinic, which cannot handle serious medical
treatments.
Immunizations
No vaccinations are required for entry into Thailand except for
yellow fever for travelers arriving from endemic regions (parts
of Africa and Latin America). Immunizations for tetanus, polio,
rabies, typhoid, tuberculosis, Japanese encephalitis and
hepatitis are advisable (but not essential) before travel to
Southeast Asia
HIV/AIDS
Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) leads to
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), a disease that is
fatal and as of yet incurable. HIV is transmitted through
contact with contaminated blood or body fluids. This can be
through sexual contact of any description, contaminated needles,
blood transfusions and even acupuncture, tattooing or body
piercing.
HIV/AIDS is spreading at worrying speed and this is largely the
result of unprotected sexual contacts and intravenous drug use.
In Thailand, more than 80% of known cases are the result of
heterosexual contacts.
The best protection against HIV is avoidance of all forms of
casual sex, either with prostitutes or with otherwise
healthy-looking persons. Next to this, the best protection is
through safe sex using a latex condom. The leading brands of
condom are widely available in Thailand, at convenience stores
and supermarkets. Its worth noting that HIV infection is not
restricted to Bangkok and the main tourist scenes. Most recorded
infections have occurred provincially, with the greatest
prevalence in the northern region. Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Urethritis remains the most common treatable sexually
transmitted disease among tourists to Asia. These days syphilis
has declined in prevalence but gonorrhea and herpes are still
quite common and often drug resistant.
The only sure way of avoiding Sexually Transmitted Diseases is
abstinence from sexual intercourse. Use of latex condoms also
offers effective but not total protection. |
