|
| |
|
HEALTH |
| |
|
|
| |
New Zealand is relatively free of serious health hazards and the
most common pitfalls are not taking precautions or simply
underestimating the power of nature. No vaccinations are required to
enter the country, but you should make sure you have adequate health
cover in your travel insurance, especially if you plan to take on the
Great Outdoors .
New Zealand has a fine health service, despite recent government cuts,
and medical services are reasonably cheap by world standards. Although
all visitors are covered by the accident compensation scheme , under
which you can claim some medical and hospital expenses in the event of
an accident, without full accident cover in your travel insurance , you
could still face a hefty bill. For more minor ailments, you can visit a
doctor for a consultation around ($35) and, armed with a prescription,
buy any required medication at a reasonable price.
AIDS is as much of an issue in New Zealand as elsewhere but official
attitudes are reasonably enlightened, and there are no restrictions on
people with HIV or AIDS entering the country. Support organizations
include the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, 76 Grafton Rd, Grafton,
Auckland (tel 09/303 3124) and the 24-hour HIV/AIDS National Hotline (tel
0800/802 437).
The sun
The biggest health problem for visitors to New Zealand is over-exposure
to the sun , which shines more fiercely here than in the northern
hemisphere, its damaging ultra-violet rays reaching a far greater
intensity. You should take extra care, especially at first, to avoid
burning. New Zealand has a high rate of skin cancer , so it makes sense
to slap on maximum-protection sunblock . Remember to re-apply every few
hours as well as after swimming, and you should avoid sunbathing
altogether between 11am and 3pm, when the sun is at its strongest. Keep
a check on any moles on your body and if you notice any changes, during
or after your trip, see a doctor right away.
Bugs and critters
Something worth avoiding is giardia , a parasite that inhabits rivers
and lakes in some national parks. Infection results from drinking
contaminated water, with symptoms appearing several weeks later: a
bloated stomach, cramps, explosive diarrhoea and wind. The Department of
Conservation advises on the likely presence of giardia in national parks
around the country. To minimize the risk of infection, purify drinking
water by using iodine-based solutions or tablets (regular chlorine-based
tablets aren't effective against giardia); by fast-boiling water for at
least seven minutes; or by using a giardia-rated filter (obtainable from
any outdoors or camping shop).
The relatively rare amoebic meningitis is another water-borne hazard,
this time contracted from hot thermal pools. The amoeba enters the body
via the nose or ears, lodges in the brain, and weeks later causes severe
headaches, stiffness of the neck, hypersensitivity to light, and
eventually coma. If you experience any of these symptoms, seek medical
attention immediately, but to avoid contamination in the first place,
simply don't put your head underwater in thermal pools.
Virtually without exception, New Zealand wildlife is harmless. Even
shark attacks are rare; you are more likely to be carried away by a
strong tide than a great white, though it still pays to be sensible and
obey any local warnings when swimming.
The country is free of snakes, scorpions and other nasties, and there's
only one poisonous creature: the little katipo spider . Mercifully rare,
this 6mm-long critter (the biting female is black with a red patch), is
found in coastal areas - except in the far south - and only bites if
disturbed. The bite can be fatal, but antivenin is available in most
hospitals, is effective up to three days after a bite and no one has
died from an encounter with the spider for many years. The West Coast of
the South Island in the summer is the worst place for mosquitoes and
sandflies , though they appear to a lesser degree in many other places
across the country. They are more irritating than dangerous and a
liberal application of repellent keeps most of them at bay, albeit
briefly.
Geological hazards
Although common in New Zealand, earthquakes are usually minor. If the
worst happens, the best advice is to stand in a doorway or crouch under
a table. If caught in the open, try to get inside; failing that, keep
your distance from trees and rocky outcrops to reduce the chances of
being injured by falling branches or debris. New Zealand's volcanoes
also have a habit of making their presence felt: vulcanologists are
often able to predict periods of eruptive activity, and if warnings are
issued, get at least as far away as they suggest.
|
| |
|
