Mitmap

Hi,

I've talked to two separate couples who just returned from Hong Kong after New Year. They have all gotten very sick with the stomach flu while there. What is surprising too is one couple are originally native Hong Kongers, so their constitution should be able to handle their cuisine and food handling. The other couple said there is bad stomach flu going around in Hong Kong right now, lots of people getting sick. I'm been to HK a few times, and would never think of getting shots going to such a metropolis. But now I wonder if maybe I should?? Especially with my husband because he has a bowel condition. What is the vaccine that will prevent this?

Kathie

There is no vaccine for stomach flu. The question here is whether people had a "stomach flu" or whether it was lack of food and water precautions that caused the problem. Note that just because someone was originally from Hong Kong makes no difference in one's susceptibility to gastro-intestinal problems related to food and water.

For travel to any country, you should consider Hep A vaccine, and for any tropical country, typhoid vaccine. Both are food and water-born illnesses. Check out www.cdc.gov/travel