Your vacation abroad can be even more enjoyable if you remember these tips from the Center for Disease Control.
Before You Travel
- Make an appointment with your doctor 6 weeks prior to your travel date.
- Talk to your doctor about health risks in the area you plan to visit.
- Plan in advance for possible problems.
Air Travel
- Take along disposable wipes and wipe down the area where you are sitting as well as the drop down table.
- Avoid being near those who are coughing.
- Clean your hands often.
Simple Tips
- Don't drink and drive.
- Wear your seat belt, use car seats or booster seats in the backseat for children.
- Follow local traffic laws.
- Wear helmuts when you ride bikes, motorcycles and motor bikes.
- Do not get on an overloaded bus or mini-bus.
- Hire a local driver when possible.
- Avoid night driving.
Ask Your Doctor
- If you need to take medicine or get special vaccinations before you travel.
- The best way to protect yourself from such things as malaria, typhoid fever and hepatitis.
- If your routine vaccinations are up to date.
When Leaving the United States
- Make sure you know if the countries you plan to visit have special health rules for visitors such as vaccinations that may not be safe for some people with specific medical conditions. Your doctor and health department can help you with this.
Medical Insurance
- Check to see what it covers when you are away from home.
- Many insurance plans have limited benefits ouside of the USA.
The Leading Cause of Illness in Travelers - Food & Water
- Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water is not available, use an alcohol-based hand gel (with at least 60% alcohol).
- Drink only bottled or boiled water or carbonated drinks in cans or bottles.
- Avoid tap water, fountain drinks and ice cubes.
- Do not eat food purchased from street vendors.
- Be sure that food is fully cooked.
- Avoid dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
- Diseases from food and water often cause vomiting and diarrhea. Be sure to bring diarrhea medicine with you so that you can treat mild causes yourself. Carry a 3-7 day supply of antibiotics that specifically treat these problems.
Prevent Insect Bites - Many diseases are spread through insect bites.
- Use insect repellent (bug spray) with 30-50% DEET.
- Wear long-sleeved shirts, long pants and hats while outdoors.
- Remain indoors in a screened or air conditioned area during peak biting times (dawn and dusk).
- Sleep in beds covered by nets and treated with permethrin, if not sleeping in a well screened or air conditioned room.
- Spray rooms with products effective against flying insects such as those containing pyrethroid.
When you are traveling, remember:
- Food and water in developing countries may not be as clean as they are at home. They may contain bacteria, viruses, or parasites that could make you ill.
- Food and drinks that are generally safe include:
- steaming hot foods,
- fruits that you peel yourself
- bottled (especially carbonated) drinks
- hot coffee or tea, beer, wine and water that you bring to a rolling boil for one full minute. There are methods to treat the water if you cannot boil it, but they do not work as well as boiling.
- Do not eat raw fruit and vegetables that you do not peel yourself, raw or undercooked seafood or meat, unpasteurized dairy products or anything from a street vendor.
- Do not drink tap water or unpasteurized milk.
And a few final tips
- Avoid traveling to places where yellow fever is found.
- Be aware that tuberculosis or "TB" is very common worldwide.
Being prepared will help you have a safe and enjoyable trip.