hopefulist:
DiversMom - Do you have a link to the embassy FAQ you could share?
http://www.who.int/ith The World Health Organization which tracks all infectious disease outbreaks. The other link they provided us with was
http://www.travel.state.gov which refers you to the above link!
There is also a toll free phone number for in the US at 1-888-407-4747
What they sent us was a general FAQ on how to avoid rotavirus contamination, what the symptoms are if infected, and who is most at risk: elderly, children under age 5, and immune compromised although healthy adults can contract it. That information can be found on the CDC website at
http://www.cdc.gov/nip/diseases/rota/rotavirus.htm
The one thing the embassy newsletter did say is to AVOID immodium, peptobismol, and other antidiarrheals which can lead to intestinal blockage and to rehydrate with Pedialyte, Gatorade or oral electrolyte salts added to fruit juice. It also says most healthy adults will be sidelined with mild discomfort for 3 to 7 days. Rotavirus is a self limiting illness but full recovery may take several additional days.
http://www.paho.org/English/AD/FCH/IM/sne2704.pdf
The info about where the rotavirus epidemic occurred is on the front page of the immunization newsletter. Most of the severe cases requiring hospitalization were among the at risk group - children under age 5
It is spread by fecal-oral contamination - the way most other traveler's diarrhea cases are spread. So....hand washing and being careful about where and what you eat are the best ways to prevent it.
The embassy, as usual, sent out all of this stuff at the tail end of the epidemic and then pulled it from their website now that April is fast approaching and the rotavirus season is coming to a close.
This is something that occurs every winter here, hence the nickname winter diarrhea. It seemed to be particularly bad this January, February, and March. As spring and summer approach, it will eventually fall to average levels of infection for a third world country.
Hope this helps folks. The Embassy is kind of odd here - they send out all this info and then pull it from their website when you want to go back and check it or refer others to it. You can contact the embassy at
usahonduras@state.gov for additional information (maybe ask for a copy of the FAQ they sent to all of us).
