Travel Clinic

How to book a travel appointment:

Book early: Book at least 4 - 6 weeks before travelling (the earlier the better)

Why early?

• Some vaccines need several doses

• Immunity takes time to develop

• Minimises side effects while you are away

• Short notice? Still book — it’s not too late, some protection is better than none.

Complete your pre-travel questionnaire - click the links below

• Travel Questionnaire – Yellow Fever

• Travel Questionnaire – Enrolled

• Travel Questionnaire – Casual

Before you have your appointment

What happens during your appointment?

You will be given advice on:
• Food and water safety
• Health hazards
• Altitude Illness
• Insect and animal bites risks
Malaria prevention
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Women's health concerns
• Medical kits
• Travel insurance
• Safety, security, and environmental issues
A vaccine schedule will be recommended based on your destination, health, and risks. You will be given a quote of the recommended vaccines.
You can decide which vaccines you want, based on your budget and protection needs.
Once you have decided on which vaccines you would like, you need to pre-pay at reception.
After payment is received, the vaccines will be ordered.

What happens after your appointment?

What are the appointment costs?

See right for costs for your travel appointments

Vaccines are not included in the costs

All prices are subject to change

Travel Clinic Appointment Costs
One adult only (includes children over 16 years	$140.00
Two adults	$210.00
Each additional adult – up to maximum of four adults	$210.00 + $70.00
Family – two adults + children (children do not have to be at appointment)	$220.00
Family – 1 adult + children (children do not have to be at appointment)	$150.00
Yellow Fever Consults	$75.00

Travel Health Advice

Rabies – What You Need to Know

Rabies is a fatal but preventable viral disease and is transmitted to people and pets through bites and scratches from infected mammals

How Rabies Spreads

Rabies is transmitted through:

Bites, scratches, or licks from infected mammals
Contact with saliva from infected animals entering broken skin, eyes, nose, or mouth

High-Risk Animals Include:

Dogs (most common worldwide source)
Bats
Monkeys
Cats
Other wild or stray animals

Avoid Animal Contact

Do not pet or feed stray animals
Supervise children closely
Avoid caves or areas where bats may be present
Be aware that some activities, such as cycling, running or cave exploring, might increase your risk of exposure to animals, particularly bats, or being attacked by a dog
Avoid handling or feeding monkeys, and be careful when carrying shopping bags or eating food near monkeys, as this can trigger an attack

If You Are Bitten or Scratched

Immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water
Apply an antiseptic such as an iodine solution to the wound
Take note of the type of the type of animal, the time you were bitten, the location of the wound and the severity, i.e. exposure to saliva, a scratch, a bite and if there was any bleeding from the wound
Seek urgent medical attention, even if you have had the rabies vaccine
Post-exposure treatment will depend on the type of animal, the category of the injury, your immune status, and if you have had pre-exposure vaccines, and may include:

Rabies vaccine series
Rabies immunoglobulin (if not previously vaccinated)
Tetanus vaccine

Jet lag

Travellers often experience jet lag, a sleep disorder caused by rapid travel across time zones, resulting in a temporary desynchronization between the internal biological clock and the local time.

Before You Travel

Gradually shift your sleep schedule to match the sleep time of your destination
Get plenty of rest before your flight• Avoid alcohol and caffeine the day before and during the flight
Consider booking flights that arrive in the early evening, so you can sleep at a normal local time

During the Flight

Stay hydrated: Drink water, avoid caffeine and alcohol
Adjust your watch to your destination time as soon as you board
Sleep if it’s nighttime at your destination, or stay awake if it’s daytime.
Time activities (e.g., meals, sleep, light exposure) based on the destination timezone.

After You Arrive

Expose yourself to daylight: Natural light helps reset your body clock
Avoid lengthy naps during the day at the destination because this will make it more difficult to sleep at night; short naps may improve alertness
Eat and sleep at local times
Stay active and get outside

https://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/converter.html

Traveller’s Diarrhoea – What You Need to Know

How to Prevent It - Food & Drink Safety:

Drink bottled, boiled, or purified water
Avoid ice, unpasteurised milk, and salads washed in tap water
Eat food that is:
Freshly cooked and hot
Peelable (e.g., bananas, oranges)

Avoid:

Street food
Raw or undercooked meat/seafood
Buffet foods left out for long periods

Hygiene:

Wash your hands often or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser
Avoid touching your mouth or face with unwashed hands

If You Get Traveller’s Diarrhoea

Mild Cases (most common)

Usually resolves within 3–5 days
Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids and oral rehydration salts
Eat small, bland meals, e.g., rice, bananas, toast

Moderate to Severe Cases

Frequent watery stools, cramps, fever, vomiting, or blood in stool

May require treatment with:

Antibiotics, e.g., azithromycin
Antidiarrhoeal medicine, e.g., loperamide – only for short-term use without fever or blood
Antinausea, e.g., ondansetron, cyclizine

When to seek medical attention

Seek medical help if you have:
Diarrhoea lasting more than 3 days
High fever or chills
Blood or mucus in stool
Signs of dehydration (dizziness, low urine output)
Severe abdominal pain

Recommended Travel Health Kit

Medication

Check Your Medication Supply

Take enough medication for the entire trip, plus extra in case of delays
Pack all medications in your carry-on bag – checked luggage can be lost or delayed
Keep medications in original packaging with labels clearly stating your name, name of medication, name of healthcare provider and dosage

Travel Letter

Ask your travel practitioner or pharmacist for a letter explaining your medical conditions and prescriptions. You may require this for:

Customs or airport security
Replacing medication overseas
Showing local healthcare providers

Storing Medication Safely

Keep medication cool and dry and avoid heat exposure (e.g., in a parked car).
Some medications may require being kept at a cooler temperature, e.g. insulin. These can be kept in a chilly bin. Insulin should not be placed directly onto ice packs as it may freeze

Check Medication Legality

Some countries restrict or ban certain medications (e.g., codeine, strong painkillers, stimulants like ADHD meds)

Time Zone Changes

For medications taken at specific times (e.g., insulin, contraceptive, anti-epileptics), plan for time zone adjustments:

Keep doses consistent with your usual schedule or adjust gradually over a few days.
Consult with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you are unsure

Insect/bug bites

There are many different types of insects that can spread diseases between people or from animals to people, such as mosquitoes, ticks, flies, and fleas.

Cover exposed skin by wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and hats especially at sunrise and after sunset
Use an appropriate insect repellent containing DEET

Apply after sunscreen, as the SPF protection of your sunscreen may reduce the effectiveness of the repellent. Reapply after swimming, washing or excessive sweating (because water and sweats washes them off)

Stay and sleep in air-conditioned or screened rooms
Use a mosquito net if the area where you are sleeping is exposed to the outdoors
If bitten by a bug, avoid scratching and apply hydrocortisone cream or calamine lotion to reduce itching.

DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) and Travel

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that forms in a deep vein, usually in the legs. It can happen during long periods of immobility, such as long-haul flights or car/bus travel. A pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a part of the DVT clot breaks off and travels to the lungs, which can be life-threatening.

How to Prevent DVT During Travel

Move your legs frequently – flex and extend ankles and knees every 30–60 minutes
Stand up and walk around every 1–2 hours (when safe to do so)
Avoid crossing your legs
Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water
Avoid alcohol and sleeping tablets that may increase immobility
Consider wearing graduated compression stockings. These help to improve blood flow and reduce swelling

Malaria: What You Need to Know

Symptoms usually appear 7 days after a mosquito bite and may include:

Fever, chills, and sweats
Headache and muscle aches
Fatigue and weakness
Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
In severe cases: confusion, jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes), or breathing problems

Prevention

Mosquitoes that carry malaria are most active at dusk and night, so protection is key:

Use insect repellent with DEET, or other recommended ingredients on exposed skin.
Wear protective clothing: long sleeves, long pants, socks.
Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets, especially in areas with malaria risk.
Stay indoors or in screened/air-conditioned areas at night.
Use screens on windows and doors
Your healthcare practitioner may prescribe medicines before, during, and after travelling to areas with malaria.
Always take as prescribed—skipping doses can reduce protection.
The choice of medicine depends on your destination, health, and allergies.
Seek urgent medical care if you experience fever:
After returning from a malaria-risk area
Even if you took prevention medicine, malaria could still occur.

Food and water safety

Contaminated food and water pose an infectious disease risk to travellers due to the numerous pathogens and toxins that can be transmitted.

In areas where tap water could be unsafe, use only commercially bottled water from an unopened, factory-sealed container or water that has been adequately disinfected for drinking, preparing food and beverages, making ice, cooking, and brushing teeth. Avoid getting tap water in your mouth when showering or bathing.
Beverages that might not be safe for consumption include iced drinks and fountain drinks or other drinks made with tap water. Because ice might be made from contaminated water, ask that all beverages be served without ice.
For infants ages <6 months, the safest way to feed is to breastfeed exclusively. Practicing careful hygiene when using a breast pump and washing pump parts using a safe source of water can reduce the risk of getting pathogens into the milk
When preparing formula from commercial powder, mixing it with a safe source of water following the manufacturer's instructions usually is sufficient. Pack enough formula as global manufacturing standards vary
Avoid raw or undercooked meat, seafood, and street food

AVOID

Salads, uncooked vegetables, raw and unpeeled fruits, and unpasteurized fruit juices.
Raw or undercooked meat, fish, shellfish, eggs.
Unpasteurized milk and milk products.

USUALLY SAFE

Fruits that can be peeled, which are safest when rinsed with safe water and peeled by the person who eats them; vegetables should be rinsed with safe water before cooking.

Fully cooked meat and eggs.
Pasteurized milk and milk products.

Sun Exposure

International travellers who engage in outdoor activities are often exposed to more ultraviolet (UV) than usual, especially in sunny locations, lower latitudes, or higher elevations, which can cause sunburn, skin damage, and phototoxic medication reactions.

Choose sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher
Apply at least 15 minutes before going outside
Reapply every 2 – 4 hours, or immediately after swimming or sweating excessively
Wear long sleeves, wide-brimmed hats, and UV-protective sunglasses
Apply a lip balm with SPF ≥30

Altitude Illness (Acute Mountain Sickness – AMS)

Altitude illness can affect anyone who ascends to high altitudes too quickly, typically above 2,500m (8,200 feet). It’s important to recognise the signs, know how to prevent it, and understand what to do if symptoms occur.

What Causes It?
At high altitudes, oxygen levels are lower. If your body doesn’t have time to adjust (acclimatise), you may develop symptoms of altitude illness. Risk increases with:

Rapid ascent
High altitude (especially over 3,000m)
Intense physical activity
History of previous altitude illness

Warning Signs to Seek Help

Worsening symptoms despite rest
Severe headache not relieved with medication
Shortness of breath at rest
Confusion, poor coordination, or persistent vomiting

Prevention Tips
Ascend gradually:

Spend 2–3 nights at 2,500–3,000 m before going higher
Do not ascend more than 300–500 m per day once above 3,000 m
Take rest days every 3–4 days
Stay hydrated and eat well
Avoid alcohol and sleeping pills at altitude
“Climb high, sleep low” – ascend during the day, but return to a lower altitude to sleep if possible

Listen to your body – don’t push through symptoms

Register Your Travel with the New Zealand Embassy

For your safety and security while traveling overseas, it’s highly recommended to register your travel details with the New Zealand Embassy. This service helps the government assist you in the event of an emergency, such as natural disasters, civil unrest, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Why Register Your Travel?

Emergency Assistance: In case of an emergency (e.g., earthquake, civil unrest), the embassy can assist with evacuation, re-entry to New Zealand, and important updates
Lost or Stolen Passports: If your passport is lost or stolen, the embassy can provide guidance on replacement
Updates on Travel Warnings: Receive official travel advisories related to safety and security
Embassy Support: Provides support in emergencies (e.g., illness, accidents, or
arrests)
Family Contact: Ensures your family can be contacted in case of an emergency

Safe Travel: www.safetravel.govt.nz

Post-Travel Health Advice

Welcome back! After traveling, it's important to monitor your health, especially if you've visited regions where certain illnesses or infections are common. Here's what you need to know to stay healthy after your travels.

Monitor Your Health for Symptoms

While many illnesses take a few days or weeks to show symptoms, it's important to be aware of any unusual health changes. Common symptoms to watch for include:

Fever or chills
Fatigue or muscle aches
Rashes or skin changes
Gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain)
Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
Swelling or pain in your legs (which may indicate a clot, e.g., DVT)
Headaches or dizziness

When to Seek Medical Advice

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of the following:

Fever lasting more than 48 hours
Severe diarrhoea or blood in your stool
Coughing up blood
Chest pain or difficulty breathing
Swelling in your legs or calves
Unusual rashes, especially after mosquito or tick bites

If you’re concerned about any symptoms, don’t hesitate to contact your healthcare provider. Provide them with your travel history, as certain diseases (e.g., malaria, typhoid, dengue) are specific to particular regions.

Please call the clinic for more information or to book an appointment.