HEALTH

Emergency information: Bring all the information you will need in case of emergency with you, and important contact numbers.

HEALTH MATTERS IN BRAZIL - It's probably best to avoid the food peddled by vendors on the beach. Food and drink in formal restaurants is safe, excellent, and inexpensive. Only buy closed drinks sold from street vendors (like cans and bottles). Always use a straw or rinse the drink container with fresh water, because the water used to cool the drinks is sometimes not fit for consumption. Unless you have been in the country for a few weeks or more, avoid all ice in drinks. Mineral water is normally safe. The quality of tap water, on the other hand, may vary from place to place (from contaminated, saline or soaked with chlorine to plain drinkable) and Brazilians themselves usually prefer to have it filtered.

EATING AND DRINKING - Brazil's cuisine is as varied as its geography and culture. Italian and Chinese food can often be as baffling as Amazonian fare.Brazil's national dish is feijoada, a hearty stew made of black beans and pork (ears, knuckles, sausage and pieces of beef (usually dried)). It's served with a side of white rice, garnished with collard greens and sliced orange.Excellent seafood can be found in coastal towns. Especially in the Northeastern part of the country. In even the smallest most towns it is easy to find self-service restaurants with good food. Brazilian restaurants tend to be quite clean. Most of the self-service restaurants offer two kinds of deals: they have an all-you-can-eat fixed price (called "Rodízio"), or you go "por quilo", which means that you weigh your plate after you serve yourself. This is very common during lunch time throughout Brazil. Eating out is a great bargain and a pleasure in Brazil. Service varies in quality but is usually inexpensive. Even in "expensive" Rio.

Brazil is recognized world-wide for its high-quality strong coffee. Cafezinho (little coffee) is a small cup of sweetened coffee which is usually served for free after meals in restaurants (just ask politely). Brazil's most famous alcoholic drink is cachaça, an extremely potent sugar-cane liquor known to knock the unwary out quite quickly

WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION

WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. www.who.int/countries/bra/en/