Page 39 - Egypt & the Eternal Nile by Private, Classic River-Yacht

Food Safety

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restaurants for the meals you take on your own. To prevent upset stomach, pay attention to
food preparation in Egypt, where the tap water is unsafe. Avoid salads and fruit that may have
been washed in local water. (Salads and fruit served on board your ship are the exception; as is
fruit that you peel yourself, which is usually safe.) In Israel these precautions do not apply as
the water there is safe to drink.

Preventing Schistosomiasis
Schistosomiasis is a disease contracted by swimming or wading in fresh water that is
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can penetrate unbroken skin, and they are common in untreated river and stream water in
Egypt and sub-Saharan Africa. The disease can produce a variety of acute symptoms ranging
from fever to joint pain, nausea, and cough. Chronic infections—which can occur even when
there have been no acute symptoms—can cause lung, liver, intestinal, or bladder disease.

Although the disease is treatable, it is obviously wisest to avoid it by refraining from
swimming, wading, or bathing in any water whose purity is not known. You do not have to
worry about becoming infected by minor splashes while boating, but you should restrict your
swimming to places known to be uncontaminated, such as hotel or shipboard pools.

Don’t Push Too Hard

One of the most important parts of staying healthy on an active trip is to not push yourself
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excursions in advance, and can usually suggest rewarding alternative activities.

Drink Plenty of Liquids

When you travel, especially in the dry desert climate of Egypt, you can easily become
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fatigue and illness. Air travel will dry you out, so drink liquids and avoid alcohol on your
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yourself tired or unwell, and don’t know why, it may be that you simply need to drink more.
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Sun and Heat Exposure
It can be very hot at mid-day. Be sure to wear your hat and use plenty of sunscreen. Be aware
of the signs of heat exposure. Be especially concerned if you feel hot, but are not perspiring.

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