Park Nicollet, a local medical group here in Minnesota has a dedicated Travel Clinic where they have very specific knowledge about all of the diseases that will kill you while traveling, and how to avoid getting them, short of staying home. I paid them a visit yesterday and left with four shots; Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, and a Polio booster, I was vacillating on whether to get the Yellow Fever vaccination until the nurse informed me the disease was fatal. I decided rather quickly after that.
I had an interesting conversation with the nurse regarding ways one can get Hepatitus B. She ran down a series of questions, I presume to see how "at risk" I would be...
"Are you a medical worker?"
"No."
"Will you be engaging in any sexual activity?"
"Not likely."
"Are you likely to come into contact with any bodily fluids?"
"I sincerely hope not."
"Will you be sharing any needles"
"Do I really look like a guy who shares needles?"
I suppose I eventually passed her test, but when she told me one of the more common ways to contract Hepatitis B is through receiving medical treatment abroad, I capitulated. You just never know...
Also got three prescriptions: Malaria medication which you take before, during and for a week after traveling to a malarial region; medication for Travelers Diarrhea (doesn't sound like much fun...); and series of four pills for Typhoid to be taken every other day.
I was also coached on how to avoid getting rabies. Rule number one; never pet a monkey!
I depart for China Friday.
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