New Zealand Staying Healthy

Common sense is the simplest prescription for good health. Travelers often complain of their feet and their guts: drink lots of fluids and wear broken-in shoes.

Environmental Hazards

Heat exhaustion and dehydration: One of the worst hazards for people in New Zealand is heat exhaustion, characterized by dehydration and salt deficiency. Heat exhaustion leads to nausea, excessive thirst, headache, and dizziness. Avoid it by drinking plenty of fluids, eating salty foods (e.g., crackers), abstaining from dehydrating beverages (e.g., alcohol and caffeinated beverages), and wearing sunscreen. Continuous heat stress can eventually lead to heatstroke, characterized by a rising temperature, headache, delirium, and cessation of sweating. Victims should be cooled off with wet towels.
Sunburn: Depleted ozone levels and unpolluted air make New Zealand a high-risk area for sunburn. Always wear sunscreen (SPF 30 is good) when spending excessive amounts of time outdoors. If you are planning on spending time near water or in the snow, you are at a higher risk of getting burned, even through clouds. If you get sunburned, drink a lot of fluids and apply an aloe-based lotion. Severe sunburns can lead to sun poisoning, a condition that affects the entire body, causing fever, chills, nausea, and vomiting. Sun poisoning should always be treated by a doctor.
Hypothermia and frostbite: In areas of New Zealand during the winter, travelers are at risk for hypothermia and frostbite. A rapid drop in body temperature is the clearest sign of overexposure to cold. Victims may also shiver, feel exhausted, have poor coordination or slurred speech, hallucinate, or suffer amnesia. Do not let hypothermia victims fall asleep. To avoid hypothermia, keep dry, wear layers, and stay out of the wind. When the temperature is below freezing, watch out for frostbite. If skin turns white or blue, waxy, and cold, do not rub the area. Drink warm beverages, stay dry, and slowly warm the area with dry fabric or steady body contact until a doctor can be found.
High altitude: The opportunities for mountaineering in New Zealand expose travelers to high-altitude settings. Allow your body a few days to adjust to less oxygen before exerting yourself. Note that alcohol and UV rays are stronger at high elevations.

Insect-Borne Diseases

Many diseases are transmitted by insects—mainly mosquitoes, fleas, ticks, and lice. Be aware of insects in wet or forested areas, especially while hiking and camping; wear long pants and long sleeves and tuck your pants into your socks. Use insect repellents such as DEET and soak or spray your gear with permethrin (licensed in the US for use on clothing only). Mosquitoes—responsible for diseases including dengue fever—can be particularly dangerous in wet, swampy, or wooded areas. New Zealand is virtually free from ticks.

Dengue fever: An “urban viral infection,” dengue fever is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day rather than at night. The incubation period is 3-14 days, usually 4-7 days. Early symptoms include a high fever, severe headache, swollen lymph nodes, and muscle aches. Many patients also suffer from nausea, vomiting, and a pink rash. If you experience these symptoms, see a doctor immediately, drink plenty of liquids, and take fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). Never take aspirin to treat dengue fever. There is no vaccine available for dengue fever.
Lymphatic filariasis: A roundworm infestation transmitted by mosquitoes. Infection causes enlargement of extremities and has no vaccine.

Food- And Water-Borne Diseases

Prevention is the best cure: be sure that your food is properly cooked and the water you drink is clean. Culprits are raw shellfish, unpasteurized milk, and sauces containing raw eggs. Always wash your hands before eating or bring a quick-drying liquid hand cleaner. The tap water in New Zealand is clean and safe, but be careful of natural bodies of water that might be stagnant or unclean.

Traveler’s diarrhea: Results from drinking fecally contaminated water or eating uncooked and contaminated foods. Symptoms include nausea, bloating, and urgency. Try quick-energy, non-sugary foods to keep your strength up. Over the counter anti-diarrheals (e.g., Imodium) may counteract problems. The most dangerous side effect is dehydration; drink 8 oz. of water with tsp. of sugar or honey and a pinch of salt. If you develop a fever or your symptoms don’t go away after 4-5 days, consult a doctor. Consult a doctor immediately for treatment of diarrhea in children.

Other Infectious Diseases

AIDS and HIV: New Zealand does not screen incoming travelers for the HIV virus. For detailed information on Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in New Zealand, call the CDC’s 24hr. hotline at ☎800-342-2437, or contact the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), 20, ave. Appia, CH-1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland (☎+41 22 791 3666; fax 22 791 4187). For more info once in New Zealand, contact the AIDS National Hotline (☎09 358 0099 or 0800 802 437), a 24hr. hotline that offers AIDS counseling. The hotline is sponsored by the New Zealand AIDS Foundation, P.O. Box 6663, Wellesley St., Auckland (☎09 303 3124; www.nzaf.org.nz).
Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs): Gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital warts, syphilis, herpes, and other STDs are easier to catch than HIV and can be just as deadly. Hepatitis B and C can also be transmitted sexually. Though condoms may protect you from some STDs, oral or even tactile contact can lead to transmission. If you think you may have contracted an STD, see a doctor immediately.

Other Health Concerns

Medical Care On The Road

New Zealand offers a high standard of medical facilities, both public and private. These are not free; it is important to know that doctors often expect to be paid in cash immediately for their services. A foreigner’s visit to most medical treatment centers costs about NZ$50-100. If your regular insurance policy does not cover travel abroad, you may wish to purchase additional coverage. Except for Medicare, most American health insurance plans cover members’ medical emergencies during trips abroad; check with your insurance provider.

If you are concerned about obtaining medical assistance while traveling, you may wish to employ special support services. The MedPass from GlobalCare, Inc., 6875 Shiloh Rd. East, Alpharetta, GA 30005, USA (☎800-860-1111; www.globalcare.net), provides 24hr. international medical assistance and evacuation resources. The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT; Canada ☎519-836-0102, US 716-754-4883; www.iamat.org) has free membership.

Those with medical conditions (such as diabetes, allergies to anti3biotics, epilepsy, or heart conditions) may want to obtain a Medic Alert membership (1st year US$40, annually thereafter US$25), which includes an ID tag and 24hr. collect call number. Contact the Medic Alert Foundation, 2323 Colorado Ave., Turlock, CA 95382, USA (☎888-633-4298, outside US 209-668-3333; www.medicalert.org).

Women’S Health

Women traveling in unsanitary conditions are vulnerable to urinary tract infections (including bladder and kidney). Over the counter medicines can sometimes alleviate symptoms, but if they persist, see a doctor. Vaginal yeast infections may flare up in hot and humid climates. Wearing loose-fitting trousers or a skirt and cotton underwear will help, as will over-the-counter remedies like Monostat or Gynelotrimin. Bring supplies from home if you are prone to infection, as they may be difficult to find on the road. Tampons, pads, and contraceptive devices are widely available, though your favorite brand may not be stocked—bring extras of anything you can’t live without. Abortion is legal in New Zealand under some circumstances; contact the Family Planning Association for more information (☎04 384 4349; www.fpanz.org.nz).