Top Ten Health Tips for International Travel

Michelle Reesman, RN, Executive Director of Passport Health Colorado says far too many international travelers, from business travelers to the more adventurous types, leave home without taking the basic steps she suggests below. “People need to put the same kind of preparation into their health as they do into their destination choice, passport acquisition or flight plans,” Reesman advises.

1. Get advice from a travel health professional. Four to six weeks before departure, consult a travel medicine specialist for the most up-to-date immunization, malaria recommendations and consultation. They can answer your questions and prepare you for a safe and healthy trip. It’s important to get your immunizations early, as some of the medication take time to effectively immunize you.
2. Protect yourself from disease-bearing insects. Wear protective clothing and use products containing 20-30% DEET, the insect repellent permethrin and bed nets.
3. Never go barefoot, even on the beach.
4. Make sure your water is purified. Do not use tap water when brushing your teeth.
5. Consume only well-cooked food. Fruits and veggies? Peel it, boil it or forget it!
6. Pre-fill your prescriptions, they may not be available at your destination. Take extra in case your trip is extended. In some countries counterfeit medications can be a problem. Carry medications in their original packaging and pack in your carry-on luggage.
7. Don’t swim in rivers, lakes, ponds or streams. Well-chlorinated pools and salt water are usually considered safe.
8. Take a basic first aid kit. Include medications for pain relief, such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, topical preparations for minor skin wounds and infections, and medications for allergic reactions (Benadryl). Consider presumptive treatment (Imodium and an antibiotic) for traveler’s diarrhea. Discuss the appropriate antibiotics for your destination with a travel health specialist.
9. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of medical problems among tourists. Avoid riding motorcycles, or wear a helmet, and don’t drink and drive. Wear a seat-belt and only travel during daylight hours.
10. Purchase travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation. Most medical insurance plans aren’t accepted when you travel internationally. One travel insurance company we recommend, called Seven Corners (formerly known as Liaison International) It can also be accessed from our website, just scroll to the bottom and the link will be on the right-hand side.

Here at Passport Health Colorado, our travel health professionals assess your individual needs, prescribe and administer immunizations and medication, and discuss any precautionary measures for dietary and recreational activities. You will also receive the latest information of health risks and requirements for each destination on your travel itinerary. We use a variety of resources including the Center for Disease Controls (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of State so that we can stay abreast of the latest developments in travel medicine and safe travel and give you the most current education to help you make an informed decision regarding your health.

Yellow Fever Update

Due to the recent alerts about outbreaks of Yellow Fever, specifically throughout South America, and the vaccine being required in more countries as this current time, we want to be sure that travelers are as protected as possible and are aware of the recent outbreaks in the areas and regions they will be visiting. Please see our previous post about the differences in Required vs. Recommended here.

Yellow Fever is also found in some areas of Africa and Southern Central America, so it is not a disease restricted to areas where alerts are currently being released. At Passport Health Colorado, we offer the Yellow Fever vaccine in a couple of ways. First, we offer a multi-dose vial which contains 5 doses of the vaccine and is perfect to give to a group of travelers who all need the vaccine or are traveling to the same place. Second, we offer the single-dose Yellow Fever as well for the individual traveler. We currently have the Yellow Fever vaccine in stock, in both forms, at all of our locations along the Front Range.

As for the latest alerts, you can see the newest press release and alert for Paraguay here from the Pan American Health Organization.

The alert for Brazil is here from Folha Online (the site is in Portuguese, but I’ve written the English version, sent from the International Society of Infectious Diseases, below):

“The Department of Health of Parana (Brazil) confirmed this Weds (12 Mar 2008) 2 cases of autochthous yellow fever (contracted in the state itself). One person died.

This is the 1st record of a case, and death, due to the disease in Parana since 1966. In that year, there were 32 deaths, according to the government.

According to the State Secretary of Health, Gilberto Martin, the 2 patients — who contracted the sylvan form of the disease — were infected in Laranjal, 423 km from the state capital, Curitiba.

One man, 35 years old, died on 29 Feb 2008. The other, 27 years old, is hospitalized in Ivaipora and not at risk of death. The 2 brothers were infected and worked in the rural area of Laranjal in the logging business.

This year (2008), 2 other cases had already been recorded in the state, but both were imported. On 8 Jan 2008, a retired banker died in Maringa, but he was infected in Caldas Novas (Goias state).

Vaccination has begun in Laranjal, where the 2 cases were confirmed. In the municipality, 84.7% of the 7400 inhabitants live in the rural area. Beyond the area of risk, some 127 municipalities of a total of 399 in Parana have been included in the areas of transition of the disease. The government of Parana wants to achieve 100% vaccination of the population that lives in the area of risk.

The distribution of the municipalities considered areas of risk is wide in Parana, reaching the regions in the west, centre, centre-south, southwest and northwest. As of Monday (17 Mar 2008), house to house vaccination will be started throughout the rural area of 157 municipalities, that are considered at risk for sylvan yellow fever.

The urban population of the municipalities will be attended at health posts. Vaccination in the area of risk will be massive and will extend until 4 Apr 2008. In counties considered areas of transition, vaccination will be held until 25 Apr 2008. In those regions, the majority of the population is already vaccinated against yellow fever.

Byline: Jose Maschio, Agencia Folha, Londrina & Dimitris Valle, Agencia Folha, Curitiba”