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Reasonable dental care is available in Port of Spain
Supplies of international medications are generally available from both the hospitals and private pharmacies.
There are often shortages of blood supplies and screening is not consistent, therefore blood transfusions should be avoided.
Medical care is more limited than in the West Care at public health facilities is significantly below Western standards for treatment of serious injuries and illness. Care at some private facilities is better than at most public health facilities. Ambulance service is extremely limited both in the quality of emergency care and in the availability of vehicles in many parts of the country.
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. Blood supply may not be adequately screened and/or single-use, disposable needles and syringes may be unavailable. When possible, travelers should defer medical treatment until reaching a facility where safety can be assured. Coral and jellyfish may present problems. "Red eye" disease and gastroenteritis can be problems, especially for children during summer. Heat rash is a continuing problem, and the weather may affect sufferers of hay fever, bronchial asthma and fungus infections. Sand flies can cause discomfort. The U.S. Transportation Department reports that insecticides are routinely sprayed inside airplanes before arriving passengers disembark.
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. Typhoid: Vaccination should be considered for persons staying longer than 3 weeks, adventurous eaters, and those who will venture off the usual tourist routes into small cities, villages and rural areas. Importance of vaccination increases as access to reasonable medical care becomes limited. Contraindications depend on vaccine type. Yellow fever: Vaccination is recommended for travelers over 9 months of age going outside of urban areas. 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. Yellow fever - occurs (activity is confined to the southeast forest area of Trinidad, and the virus has been isolated from Haemogogus mosquitoes only; there has been no isolation from a vertebrate reservoir, and no human cases have been reported since 1979) Food-borne and water-borne illness: these diseases, including bacillary and amoebic dysenteries, are common. Hepatitis - occurs Other hazards: High levels of immunization coverage have reduced the incidence of diseases such as measles and diphtheria. Influenza risk extends throughout the year. Animal rabies, particularly in the mongoose, is reported in some areas. Vampire bats may also pose a risk on Trinidad.
AIDS: According to the Department of State, testing is required for all applicants for permanent residence or citizenship. Contact Trinidad & Tobago's embassy for details. Yellow fever: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travelers over 1 year of age coming from infected areas.