Borneo travel advice

HEALTH

Several vaccinations are advised before travelling to Borneo; consult your travel clinic six to eight weeks before departure to ensure you have time to complete all the series of injections. Malaria is also present, so you will need to bring anti-malarial medication. Wearing long sleeves and trousers is also advised, as well as insect repellent. This also protects against dengue fever. Remember, malaria can develop up to a year after exposure, so keep an eye on any symptoms. Citronella is the favoured repellent for many travellers. However, this should be avoided as it attracts hornets – giant wasps with an extraordinarily painful sting. Tap water is unsafe to drink – also be wary of ice in drinks and unpeeled fruit and vegetables. Avoid eating bushmeat such as monkeys or bats as these are often carriers of diseases – as well as often being inadvisable for environmental reasons. Mt Kinabalu is 4,095m above sea level, so if attempting to climb to the summit you should be aware of the symptoms of altitude sickness. The climb ascends over 2,500m in less than 24 hours, so there is little time for your body to acclimatise. Leeches are present in the lowland jungles. These are more unpleasant than dangerous, but you can buy “leech socks” which are effective at stopping them, and keep your trousers tucked into your socks or boots. Borneo is incredibly hot and humid, so keep well hydrated at all times. Bring a basic first aid kit and medication for sickness and diarrhoea if planning to trek or cycle in remote regions. If you need to be hospitalised, travel to the mainland may be necessary, so be sure you have comprehensive travel insurance which covers medical evacuation, along with any other activities you may be doing, such as high-altitude hikes, windsurfing or diving. Forest fires in Central Kalimantan cause serious air pollution which is getting more and more dangerous each year; so severe are the respiratory illnesses they cause that the fires have been dubbed a 'crime against humanity". Travellers with respiratory problems should exercise precautions, and all travellers are advised to check with their holiday company on the severity of the smog in the region they are travelling to - especially if visiting Kalimantan, although pollution also spreads into Sabah and Sarawak. You should ask if face masks are available when in the worst affected areas. Visit the CDC website for up to date health information on Malaysia and Indonesia.