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Travellers heading to developing countries should research disease outbreaks in their chosen destination and take appropriate travel medicine, a senior nurse has warned.

Ideally, she commented, medical advice should be sought at least six to eight weeks prior to travel, but if people have less time a visit to a clinic is still advised.

According to Lynda Bramham, senior nurse advisor at the Medical Advisory Services for Travellers Abroad (Masta), people intending to live or work with local populations in developing countries for three months or more should have a TB vaccine.

'The BCG vaccine for TB can take around eight weeks to be effective and it has to be planned in carefully around other travel vaccines,' she said.

'No other vaccines should be given in the same arm for the following three months, for example.'

She also advised people to take a first aid pack with them containing such things as painkillers, antiseptic sprays, plasters, insect repellent and travel sickness medication.

Masta provides travel health advice to the public through its online Health Brief and via its network of UK travel clinics.

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