Pacific Crossing and Immunisations, and Noseeums?

[VirtualVagabond]

I've been reading up in preparation for our Pacific crossing and in one guide (The Pacific Crossing Guide) it states you have to have Yellow Fever immunization if you're entering French Polynesia from Panama or any South American countries.

The other guide (Landfalls of Paradise) doesn't mention anything.

What is the experience of CF members who've made the crossing?

I've never seen anything on it here so I suspect it may not be necessary.

Oh, and what's the best defence against No No flies and noseeums?

Vic

[AiniA]

There is a difference between what the rules say and what is enforced. When we entered FP, and all the countries (30ish), we have never been asked about yellow fever inoculation - which we got after reading the regs.

We have had no problems with flies of various types in the tropics because there always seems to a good wind. We were more concerned more dengue fever which seems to be a growing problem in many parts of the world. It is spread by mosquitoes during the day, often in urban areas.

[boatman61]

Last year I went through and had no vaccinations for anything... was not asked for anything either... from Panama-Marquesas-Samoa-Vanuatu-OZ...
As for the Noseeum's... was never bothered by them... mind I was anchored a bit offshore and away from beach areas..
My main problem was cuts and scratches taking forever to heal where normally they'd be gone in a week.. not sure of the cause.
But I'm all right now... I think..

[savoir]

Careful with placing too much reliance on " Landfalls in Paradise ". It was written in the 70's and is way out of date on almost everything. The recent editions have improved it little.

You can get by just fine by combining " South Pacific Anchorages " with the Moon guidebooks for the countries you would like to visit.

[Paul L]

I wasn't aware you could get a vaccine for no-see-ums

EDIT: And to add something more useful, there is a lot of up to date info on Soggy Paws site at http://www.svsoggypaws.com/files/index.htm

[VirtualVagabond]

Thanks for that.
Pretty much what I was expecting.
Landfalls in Paradise seems to update from time to time, my edition is the 5th and dated 2006.
The Pacific Crossing Guide is a 2nd edition and was last done in 2011.

Soggy Paws looks to be a useful blog, and of curse I'll read up on Noonsite too.

By all accounts Galapagos has become very expensive so I'm looking at Puerto Amistad as an alternative from Panama. (Atoll suggestion)

Vic

[zeehag]

skeeters and no seeums--AUTAN is only thing i found to work.
electric repellant for the cockpit or indoors also works.
zappers that look like tennis racquets work nicely...
will you go from panama to so pac or will you visit mexico first?

[sck5]

why on earth would you NOT get a yellow fever shot if you are going to a yellow fever area? Are you nuts? Yellow fever can kill you. It is not just a bureaucratic requirement.

The CDC website can tell you where there is yellow fever:

Yellow Fever & Malaria Information, by Country - Chapter 3 - 2012 Yellow Book | Travelers' Health | CDC

[savoir]

Where is the yellow fever area amongst the Pacific island countries ?

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by zeehag

skeeters and no seeums--AUTAN is only thing i found to work.
electric repellant for the cockpit or indoors also works.
zappers that look like tennis racquets work nicely...
will you go from panama to so pac or will you visit mexico first?

Straight to S. Pacific. We'll have to do Mexico next time around! Will you still be there ...

[Bash]

Originally Posted by VirtualVagabond

Straight to S. Pacific. We'll have to do Mexico next time around! Will you still be there ...

My Mexican contacts have informed me that there's a movement afoot to coronate Zee as Queen of the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Her jibber-jabber about continuing her southward journey are seen by many to be the ravings of a mad princess.

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by sck5

why on earth would you NOT get a yellow fever shot if you are going to a yellow fever area? Are you nuts? Yellow fever can kill you. It is not just a bureaucratic requirement.

The CDC website can tell you where there is yellow fever:

Yellow Fever & Malaria Information, by Country - Chapter 3 - 2012 Yellow Book | Travelers' Health | CDC

French Polynesia is NOT a yellow fever area, they just have it as an entry requirement, although it appears it's not enforced.
I grew up in Africa so I've had just about every inoculation on the planet, but I don't have certificates.
Vic

[VirtualVagabond]

Originally Posted by Bash

My Mexican contacts have informed me that there's a movement afoot to coronate Zee as Queen of the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Her jibber-jabber about continuing her southward journey are seen by many to be the ravings of a mad princess.

ROFL

[savoir]

Originally Posted by Bash

My Mexican contacts have informed me that there's a movement afoot to coronate Zee as Queen of the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Her jibber-jabber about continuing her southward journey are seen by many to be the ravings of a mad princess.

Dunno about the mad bit.

zee is down there in Mexico contemplating such momentous issues as what t shirt to wear tomorrow. On the other hand there are plenty of princesses in Minnesota contemplating what color snow blower to buy their husband for father's day. Seems to me that zee has it all sorted very nicely. Besides, her cat hates snow.

[Snore]

I have done some casual research on no see'ums in Everglades National Park. Least effective was the organic oils... Unless you slop it on so thick it acts like fly paper. Anything with a lot of DEET is very effective. Finally, there is my favorite- although I have had to stop using 1/2 the formula---- Macanudo Cigars and Jack Daniels. The cigars keep them at bay, then the Jack kicks in and it doesn't matter.

Seriously, Backwoods Off is the most effective thing I've found.