Travel Health

Overseas travel exposes you to wonderful new experiences, but it can also expose you to potentially serious health risks. Remember – your health is your responsibility – with a bit of preparation, you can prevent an illness that could ruin your holiday, or worse.

·       Before you leave, it is important to research every country you will visit, and to get advice that is tailored to your health needs from your GP. The risk of acquiring an infection and the appropriate preventative measures can be different for older travellers, children, pregnant women or those with underlying chronic diseases.

·       While you are away, there are some things you need to keep in mind to prevent illness, like preventing insect bites and being careful of what you eat.

·       When you return, keep an eye on your health. Some diseases may not become apparent until you have returned home and could spread to your loved ones.

Information on the health risks associated with many destinations can be found online at:

·       See a doctor well in advance before you leave – even if you are well

Your doctor can advise you on measures which can be taken to avoid infectious diseases to which you might be exposed while overseas. This might include measures to avoid consuming potentially contaminated water or food, medication to reduce the risk of acquiring infections or vaccination against serious disease.

It is important to schedule a visit to your doctor at least 6-8 weeks before you travel to allow time to complete any vaccination schedule you undertake.

Immunisation:

Many diseases which are a risk to travellers can be prevented by immunisation. Some diseases that should be considered are:

·        Hepatitis A

·        Hepatitis B

·        Influenza

·        Japanese encephalitis

·        Meningococcal disease

·        Rabies

·        Tuberculosis

·        Typhoid

·        Varicella (Chickenpox)

·        Cholera

·        Measles

*Yellow fever

*Further information for travellers about yellow fever vaccination requirements can be found at Department of Health | Yellow fever - general fact sheet

Some countries still suffer high rates of infection from diseases that are rare in Australia due to our routine childhood vaccination. If you were born overseas, and you are returning to visit friends and family, you should still check with your doctor if you need any immunisations. Your immunity to some diseases may have changed or diminished with time – so even if you were immunised as a child, you may need re-vaccination.

While you are away

Some common measures which will help reduce the risk of infectious disease in many parts of the world to which Australians travel are:

1. Protect yourself from insects

The bite of infected mosquitoes is a major way by which infectious diseases can be spread in many parts of the world. Potentially serious diseases which are spread by mosquitoes include:

·       Yellow Fever, which occurs in South America, Central America and Africa.

·       Malaria, which occurs in Africa, Asia and South America and can be particularly severe in people without previous exposure to the disease.

·       Dengue Fever, which occurs in most urban centres in the tropics. Serious outbreaks have occurred in Queensland when ill travellers have returned and infected local mosquitoes.

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The most reliable way to make sure you don’t catch a mosquito-borne disease is to wear a mosquito repellent containing DEET or picaridin which will help avoid being bitten by a mosquito. There are other measures you can take to avoid being bitten, including:

·       Wearing light coloured, long-sleeved clothes when you’re outdoors

·       Avoiding wearing perfume or cologne (some of these can attract mosquitoes)

·       Preventing mosquitoes entering your accommodation

·       Using a mosquito net at night-time (if mosquitoes are likely to be present)

Mosquito-borne diseases don’t occur in all countries, but it is advisable to talk to your doctor about what vaccinations or medications you might need to take.

2. Be aware of the risk of rabies

Rabies is a virus which can potentially infect any warm-blooded animal and is found in most countries outside of Australia and New Zealand. It is spread through bites or scratches from infected animals. The greatest risk is posed by the types of animals people interact with commonly, such as dogs, but also includes monkeys, bats and rodents. Domestic or zoo animals in many parts of the world are vaccinated against rabies. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal while overseas it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. If a bite or scratch is considered sufficiently high-risk it is usual to provide vaccination and immunoglobulin to provide immunity against infection.

3. Think about what you eat and drink

Food-borne illness is a major cause of disease overseas and includes ‘traveller’s diarrhoea’ as well as more serious diseases such as hepatitis A or cholera. A glass of soft drink might be safe but the ice in the glass could be made with contaminated water.

High risk foods include:

o   Unpasteurised dairy products

o   Ice

o   Raw or minimally cooked meat or seafood

o   Reheated food

o   Salads

o   Food which has been left exposed to flies

o   Food prepared in premises with poor hygiene

Your GP can provide advice on antibiotics which can be carried if you are at high risk of developing food or water borne infections.

4. Sexually Transmissible Infections

Travellers should be aware of the ongoing risks of sexually transmissible infections (STIs) including chlamydia, gonorrhoea, human papillomavirus, herpes, syphilis, hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS. Condoms are not just for stopping pregnancy. They are also the best way to avoid STIs. Make sure you know how to use a condom properly and always have some with you. The rate of HIV/AIDS and viral hepatitis infection in some countries can be very high. Travellers should take precautions if engaging in activities that expose them to risk of infection such as use of contaminated needles and syringes, the use of non-sterile tattooing equipment, or unsafe sex.

5. Medical Tourism

Medical tourism refers to travelling to another country for the purpose of obtaining medical care. Many people who undertake medical tourism do so because treatment is much cheaper in another country. The most common procedures that people undergo on medical tourism trips include cosmetic surgery, dentistry, and heart surgery. If you plan to travel overseas to receive medical care, including a cosmetic procedure, keep in mind that the quality of care you will receive may be different from that of medical care in Australia. It would be in your best interests to discuss your plans with your healthcare professional before you leave Australia.

Get travel insurance and be honest about your medical background and holiday intentions or you may not be covered!

When you return

If you become unwell in the two weeks after your return to Australia see your doctor.

It takes time after you are exposed to an infectious disease for you to become unwell (the incubation period).

For this reason, for the two weeks after you get back from overseas, you should pay close attention to your health.

If you’re considering overseas travel soon please make an appointment with one of our doctors.