None is compulsory but the following are advisable:
Triple vaccine for Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio (boosters every 10yrs) Most schoolchildren have this when 5 (pre-school booster) & about 15.
Typhoid (boosters every 3yrs) – this can be contracted even in Spain , Italy , Greece , etc.
Hep A; boosters last up to 25 yrs after initial course (info correct as of Aug '09)
Malaria – not an issue unless you travel to the El Fayoum Oasis region, about 70km southwest of Cairo.
FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE DISEASES FOR WHICH JABS ARE RECOMMENDED: - Here's how these diseases are spread.
TYPHOID FEVER, also known as enteric fever, bilious fever or Yellow Jack, is an illness caused by the bacterium Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi. Common worldwide, it is transmitted by the ingestion of food or water contaminated with faeces from an infected person. The bacteria grows best at 37°C -human body temperature. (Booster every 3 years)HEPATITIS A is very common in countries with poor sanitary conditions. Most people get infected during trips to less-developed countries or by direct contact with others infected with hepatitis A virus. Hepatitis A virus is present in stools passed by infected persons. It can be transmitted via contaminated food, e.g. shellfish and ice-cream, as well as contaminated water and beverages. The virus can also be spread through contact with an infected person's stools through poor hygiene. Good hygiene reduces the risk of infection. Wash or peel fruits and vegetables during trips to countries with poor sanitary conditions. Unsanitary conditions can allow shellfish to be contaminated by human sewage. (After the initial course, latest info being given is that the boosters are lasting 25 years at least; research is ongoing)
(Whilst Sharm can’t be classed as having poor sanitation, the workers are men from all over Egypt & one can’t be sure of their background or discipline when it comes to personal hygiene; the same as onecan't know anything about fellow guests in the hotels.)
POLIOMYELITIS, often called polio or infantile paralysis, is an acute viral infectious disease spread from person to person, primarily via the faecal-oral route by ingesting contaminated food or water. Poliomyelitis is highly contagious and spreads easily from human-to-human contact. It is occasionally transmitted via the oral-oral route, a mode especially visible in areas with good sanitation and hygiene. (Part of the triple jab with tetanus & diphtheria; boosters last 10 yrs.)
DIPTHERIA is an acute respiratory infection caused by the diphtheria bacterium, Corynebacterium diphtheriae and its toxin. This is a serious infection with a high mortality rate, even in Western Europe . The disease is mainly transmitted by droplets from the nose or throat being passed from person to person, e.g. by coughing or sneezing. Protection from the disease comes from having antibodies in the blood - which is the purpose of vaccination. The bacteria can easily be passed on by a person who shows no sign of illness, a so-called 'healthy disease carrier'. (See NOTE below) Diphtheria can also be transmitted by skin-to-skin contact. The bacteria may be found anywhere, but especially in poor or densely populated areas, where some people have not been vaccinated against diphtheria, encouraging the disease to spread.
PLEASE NOTE!! In the early and mid 1990s more than 50,000 people in Russia and the Baltic countries fell ill with diphtheria. (It is not known, at the time of writing, whether the population is now routinely vaccinated against this disease or if some of the people, including those who travel, remain carriers. Boosters last 10 yrs; see Polio)
TETANUS, also known as lockjaw, is a serious but preventable disease that affects the body's muscles and nerves. It typically arises from a skin wound that becomes contaminated by a bacterium called Clostridium tetani, which is often found in soil. Without treatment, tetanus can be fatal. (See Polio – boosters last 10 yrs)