Cape Verde - Health Precautions

[Lukourgos]

I have read various brochures and articles about Cape Verde and none of them has given any health warnings. I have however just received Thomson's Summer 2007 issue of 'real holidays' which contains the following comment :-
" Island water is unsafe to drink, so drink bottled water. Vaccinations for typhoid, hepatitus A, diphtheria and yellow fever are recommended. Malaria is not endemic on the islands but, if in doubt, check with your docter ahead of travel "
I was considering going to Cape Verde in February but the thought of having all these jabs puts me off. Can anyone who has been there tell me if they had been given similar such advice before going and, if so, did you take it?

[jno]

they recommend those for half the countries of the world. They're not compulsory so you don't have to have them. I hate jabs and have them only when ordered to. I haven't had any for 20 years and I'm still standing. (Never been to Cap Verde, though.) Do check the malaria situation; a chemist can probably tell you.

[dzug]

There's more detailed information here:

http://www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/destinations/ca peverdeislands.htm

The yellow fever recommendation is garbage - it's only needed if you have arrived from a yellow fever area (where you would have had it anyway). It's not a threat locally.

Malaria is a threat on one island only for part of the year.

Never trust information given by a tour operator, particularly a mass market package one. Where they are not plain wrong they err wildly on the side of caution.