Barbados
Reasonable dental care can be found in Bridgetown
Supplies of international medications are generally available in Barbados
Blood supplies may not be screened to international standards and therefore should be considered as unsafe
Medical care is generally good.
Recent medical and dental exams should ensure that the traveler is in good health. Carry appropriate health and accident insurance documents and copies of any important medical records. Bring an adequate supply of all prescription and other medications as well as any necessary personal hygiene items, including a spare pair of eyeglasses or contact lenses if necessary.
Take personal protective measures against insects. Drink only bottled beverages (including water) or beverages made with boiled water. Do not use ice cubes or eat raw seafood or rare meat. Eat well-cooked foods while they are still hot and fruits that can be peeled without contamination. Avoid roadside stands and street vendors. Only pasteurized dairy products should be consumed.
AIDS occurs. Local sources report that blood is tested for HIV1. If medical treatment is needed, travelers should ensure that single-use, disposable needles and syringes are used.
Hay fever, asthma, sinusitis, or other respiratory diseases and allergy problems, which may be minor in temperate climates, are aggravated here especially during the 5-month sugarcane harvesting season.
Coral and jellyfish may present problems.
Centipedes on the island can give a painful bite.
Machineel trees lining many beaches bear a poisonous fruit, similar to a crab apple. Avoid these trees during a rainstorm since they emit an irritant juice that can cause skin eruptions.
Heavy surf, undertow, and coral rock formations make swimming dangerous on the east and southeast c`ts. (The south and west coast beaches have less surf and are generally safe.)
The U.S. Transportation Department reports that the passenger cabins of aircraft destined for Barbados are treated with a residual pesticide before passengers board.
Hepatitis A: Consider active immunization with hepatitis A vaccine or passive immunization with immune globulin (IG) for all susceptible travelers. Especially consider choosing active immunization for persons planning to reside for a long period or for persons who take frequent short-term trips to risk areas. The importance of protection against hepatitis A increases as length of stay increases. It is particularly important for persons who will be living in or visiting rural areas, eating or drinking in settings of poor or uncertain sanitation, or who will have close contact with local persons (especially young children) in settings with poor sanitary conditions.
Note: All routine vaccines (such as DTP or Td, Hib, MMR, polio, varicella, influenza and pneumococcal) should be kept up-to-date as a matter of good health practice unrelated to travel.
Insect-borne illness: outbreaks of dengue fever occur, and dengue hemorrhagic fever has also occurred.
Food-borne and water-borne illness: there is a low incidence of traveler's diarrhea.
Hepatitis - occurs infrequently
Leptospirosis - occurs (prime time appears to be October into November, toward the end of the rainy season)
Other hazards:
High levels of immunization coverage have reduced the incidence of diseases such as measles and diphtheria.
Influenza risk extends throughout the year.
Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.
