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13 December 2013 08:51
England will be based in Rio de Janeiro for the 2014 World Cup tournament
England players will not only have to be physically fit on the pitch for next year's World Cup, but the sportsmen will need to safeguard themselves against a range of tropical diseases.
Come next June, the players are likely to be vaccinated against rabies, tetanus and yellow fever, and, according to the Foreign Office, are advised to take malaria tablets for at least 10 days before travel.
Surrounded by Amazon rainforest, other potential illnesses related to travel to South America include typhoid, diphtheria and hepatitis A and B.
The FO warning underlines the importance of arranging medical travel insurance before travelling to countries such as Brazil, as well as pre-existing medical travel insurance for those with ongoing conditions.
For the first round of matches, the national squad will face Uruguay and Costa Rica after the Italy fixture in the city of Manaus, where temperatures are expected to reach 30C, even with a 6pm kick-off. Respite may be offered for the other two games in Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte, where conditions should be milder.
The team, along with manager Roy Hodgson, will seek to acclimatise to their surroundings by spending 10 days in Miami before heading to their Rio base, with the possibility of two friendlies in the American city
Hodgson said: "In Brazil it's going to be very tough for any team. We have to consider how we have enough legs and running power because you can play a pressing game out here.
"We've got to work on aspects of our game and also take into account our opponents. Each game throws up different challenges. You study the opponent, make yourselves aware of the strengths in their game and what they like to do, but also where they find life difficult and work on those."
A meeting has been organised by the FA to organise the medical, dietary and logistical needs of the trip.
Performance services boss Dave Reddin, who has experience of preparing England's Rugby World Cup team for their victory in Australia in 2003, will be tasked with heading up the preparations for the Brazil fixtures.
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