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A yellow fever certificate is required from travellers over 1
year of age arriving within 6 days of leaving or transiting countries
with infected areas.
Health care
Dentists and doctors and are highly trained and
hospitals are well equipped. There is a mutual health agreement
with the UK in emergencies only, which allows residents from the
UK free hospital treatment.
A passport or proof of UK residence, such as
an NHS medical card or a UK driving licence, must be shown. Prescribed
medicines, ambulances and treatment at various doctors’
surgeries must be paid for.
Personal insurance for accidents and illness
is highly recommended for all visitors. Those wishing to benefit
from the agreement should enrol at a Medicare office, which can
be done after treatment.
Other risks
Occasional outbreaks of dengue fever and Ross
River fever have occurred in rural areas in northern Australia
in new years.
There have been reports of Murray Valley encephalitis in the Northern
Territory. Jellyfish, corals, and fresh water crocodiles may prove
a hazard to the bather, and heat is a hazard in the northern and
central parts of Australia.
Insectivorous and fruit eating bats have been found to carry a
virus related to the rabies virus and should
be avoided. Venomous snakes and spiders exist throughout Australia
and can be very dangerous. Medical assistance
should be sought instantly if bitten.
Food and Drink
Values of hygiene in food preparation are very high. Milk is pasteurised
and vegetables and meat are considered safe to eat.
Care should be taken, however, when sampling ’bush tucker’
in outback areas as some fauna and insects are very poisonous
unless properly cooked.
Note
There are strict health and custom controls on entering and leaving
the country, and Australian law can inflict severe penalties on
health infringements.
Australia has the right to isolate any person who arrives without
the required certificates. Carriers are responsible for expenses
of isolation of all travellers arriving by air who are not in
possession of the necessary vaccination certificates.
All arriving aircraft are sprayed before disembarkation to avoid
the spread of disease carrying insects. |
