Thailand combines East and West, which is reflected quite a bit in its major cities Where you will find ancient temples, next to skyscrapers and huge shopping centers. This combination may confuse and make some of the travelers complacent and avoid taking the necessary safety measures, in everything related to the health aspect. As an Asian country, Thailand is exposed to many diseases, the like of which are no longer found in Western countries. The intention of this article is not to scare or cause unnecessary concerns, but to allow you to enjoy a perfect trip without diseases or various health problems, which may arise while moving in the country. If you are planning to come to Thailand, whether for a relatively short trip of two weeks or for a longer trip, please pay attention to the following instructions and apply them. This way you can absorb all the abundance, the beauty and the uniqueness that Thailand has to offer and return to the country safe and sound.
First of all - travel insurance
Vaccinations are important (and even necessary) and of course you should also know about the local medical services and how to need them, but even before that you must close the corner of travel insurance. Medical treatments cost money (and a lot) if you are not a citizen of the country where you need treatment, and so that you don't have to incur heavy expenses as well as run around looking for the right place to receive treatment - you should have appropriate travel insurance.
The insurance costs in relation to the price of the trip are negligible and the knowledge that you, your friends and family members are covered in case something goes wrong is worth the peace of mind you really long for - after all, this is why you went on vacation. It is important that you know that the insurance must be purchased from Israel only (insurance purchased from abroad will not be valid) so if you are already set on dates, there is no reason to delay. Purchase travel insurance now, and you will have peace of mind until the trip, and of course during it.
Vaccinations are required
Due to the exposure, during the trip in Thailand, to various diseases and especially in the more remote areas of the country, the Ministry of Health in Israel recommends some vaccinations which, although not mandatory, are very useful to get vaccinated before departure. The same is true for those who wish to combine during their visit to Thailand a visit to neighboring countries, with common borders, that "suffer" from the same diseases. You get the vaccinations at the different medical centers, which you will find at different points in the country. It is very advisable to get vaccinated at least a month and a half in advance, but at the same time, contact these centers directly and check what the exact procedure is, what the required vaccinations are and of course when is the best time to get vaccinated (depending on the time of departure for the trip).
The recommended vaccinations for everyone (regardless of which destination in Thailand you are going to), are: Hepatitis A vaccine and typhoid vaccine. If you plan to get tattooed in Thailand, do piercings, acupuncture, dental treatments or you are likely to come into contact with another person's blood, Hepatitis B vaccine Highly recommended. If you plan to travel in Thailand in the wet season, between May and October, with an emphasis on the rural areas and Chiang Mai, Japanese encephalitis vaccine It is also highly recommended. As for updating routine vaccinations, if more than 10 years have passed since you were vaccinated against tetanus, it's time to get vaccinated again. If you were born after 1977, Measles vaccine Also recommended. If you have never had chicken pox and you are planning to travel for a long time in Thailand, Chickenpox vaccine Equally important and of course the routine vaccination recommended for every Israeli every year - flu shot.
Medical information for travelers in Thailand
be careful and beware
One of the most common and dangerous diseases in Thailand, from which you should be very careful Malaria. At the same time, it is relatively rare in the popular tourist areas and common in less well-known and very isolated areas (especially in the southeastern part of Thailand, and near the border with Cambodia). However, if you are planning to stop in the tribal areas and remote rural areas, it is very worthwhile to be careful and take care to receive preventive treatment against the disease. Malaria is transmitted through mosquitoes, especially at night. It is recommended to purchase anti-malaria pills before traveling.
Another unpleasant disease, which is also caused by a mosquito bite, is Dengue fever. The disease is more common in the central and northern part of Thailand, while in its western regions it hardly appears. The chances are even higher in the north during the wet season, between the months of April and November. Protective measures against mosquito bites, such as a special cream and wearing long clothes, are the right way of prevention.
Diarrhea is also common among travelers, and in fact can also appear while traveling in other parts of the world. In Thailand, the chance of this is even higher due to the quality of the tap water, which is often used for drinking. Therefore, it is highly recommended to avoid drinking them and replace them with drinking mineral water, which comes in closed bottles. Another option is to disinfect the water using a filter and iodine (can be purchased in Israel before the trip). If you are attacked by bothersome diarrhea during the trip, use azithromycin. The medicine can be purchased in Israel. At the same time, pay attention to the hygiene of the water and at the same time the hygiene of the food you consume.
Medical centers throughout Thailand
If you need any medical assistance or suffer from a problem that requires immediate treatment, you can find in Thailand, especially in its large cities, suitable hospitals and medical centers that will be able to receive you. in bangkok There are quite a few of them (befitting a large and very touristic city) and also in the Chiang Mai area, in the north, and on the island Phuket. In general, anywhere where quite a few people travel, you are likely to find a suitable medical center that can help you, but in any case, you should check the matter in advance before arriving.
Bangkok
Bangkok Hospital
Address: New Petchabury Road. Soi Soonvijai
Telephone from within the country: 02-310-3344
Out of state phone: +662-310-3344
Bumrungrad Hospital (this is a high level private hospital, the staff speaks English and the treatments are completely western)
Address: 33 Sukhumvit 3 (Soi Nana)
Telephone from within the country: 02-667-2999
Out of state phone: +662-667-2999
BNH Hospital
Address: 9/1, Convent Road, Silom Bangkok 10500, Thailand
Telephone from within the country: 02-632-0550
Out of state phone: +662-632-0550
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai Ram Hospital
Address: Bunrueang Rit Rd 8, Tambon Su Thep
Telephone within the country: 053-224-861
Out of state phone: +665-392-300
Phuket
Bangkok Hospital in Phuket
Address: 1 Hongyok Utis Rd., Muang District,
Out of state phone: +667-625-4425
Kosmoy
Bangkok Hospital in Samui
Address: 57 Moo 3, Thaweerat Phakdee Road, Bophut
Out of state phone: +667-742-9540
Post-military trip to Thailand - additional articles in the series:
- Where do you start?
- General information about a post-military trip to Thailand
- Short trip - Northern Thailand
- Short trip - South Thailand
- A long trip
Please note: the recommendations and instructions in this article are not a substitute for medical advice, and the provision of information about the medical centers does not constitute a recommendation about any of them and/or the quality of the medical service in them.
