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Holiday health warning

2 July 2008

Most people think holidays are good for their health, and they usually are. However the Health Protection Agency is warning that this may not always be the case. If travellers do not seek health advice before they travel they may return with an unwanted holiday souvenir in the form of an infectious disease.

Most UK residents travel to Europe for their holidays but increasingly, people are travelling to more tropical destinations – and these are the places where travellers are more likely to contract infections. These can range from serious diseases passed on by insect bites to stomach bugs picked up through consuming contaminated food or water. These infections are preventable if health advice is sought prior to travel and followed during your trip.

Malaria is the most common imported infection resulting from mosquito bites and the more serious form of the disease can be rapidly fatal. Preventive medication is effective but has to be started before travel, and taken consistently throughout the trip and for a period after return. A significant cause of malaria in UK travellers is failure to take appropriate preventative treatment. With approximately 2,000 cases of malaria occurring in UK travellers each year this clearly remains a significant issue.  Those most at risk are people travelling to visit friends and relatives in their own or their family’s country of origin, who may mistakenly believe that they have immunity to the disease. Among patients with malaria where the history of pre travel medication was obtained, 83% (704/844) had not taken any medication.

Because not all diseases transmitted by mosquitoes can be prevented with vaccinations or preventative medication, the only way to reduce the risk of becoming infected is to avoid mosquito bites.   You can do this by covering up any exposed skin, using insect repellent, wearing loose-fitting long trousers and long sleeves in the evenings and, if necessary, using mosquito netting around your sleeping area at night-time. 

Dr Barry Walsh, from the Health Protection Agency, London region said:

“If you’re intending to visit a tropical country you should consult a travel medicine clinic or medical practitioner before your holiday.  You should arrange this at least 4–8 weeks before you travel and preferably earlier if you are involved in long-term travel or overseas work.

“Although your GP or medical professional and the travel industry can provide help and advice, wherever you are travelling to, you should make sure you ask for information, and ensure that you understand the risks involved, and that you take all the necessary precautions.“

Even if you do obtain travel advice before going on holiday it is also important to remember that immunisations or vaccines are not a substitute for avoiding potentially contaminated food and water.

To prevent picking up any stomach bugs while abroad you should only eat thoroughly cooked food and drink only well-sealed bottled or packaged cold drinks. Boil drinking-water if safety is doubtful. If boiling is not possible, a certified well-maintained filter and/or disinfectant agent can be used.

 

Notes to editors:

  • The HPA has published guidelines on the prevention of malaria in travellers at http://www.hpa.org.uk/infections/topics_az/malaria/guidelines.htm. 
  • Members of the public should seek advice about their specific travel health needs from their GP or local travel clinic. Information sheets on insect bite avoidance and prevention of food and waterborne diseases, as well as updates on other travel health issues, are available on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website at www.nathnac.org/travel/factsheets/iba.htm and www.nathnac.org/travel/news/index.htm. NaTHNaC also have an advice line which deals with queries from health professionals about patients with complex medical needs or travel itineraries (0845 602 6712  (local call rate); Monday – Friday, 09.00-12.00 14.00-16.30).
  • The London region accounts for a large majority of cases of imported typhoid fever, with 106 cases reported between July 2007 and June 2008. The majority of these cases were acquired in the Indian subcontinent by people with family links in this area. There is a vaccine available that protects against typhoid but it is also important to only consume properly cooked food and only drink bottled, boiled or treated water rather than tap water.
  • There are a range of diseases spread by contaminated water and food that can cause severe diarrhoea, including cholera and salmonella.  More common  is travellers’ diarrhoea which is usually a less serious, self-limiting illnesses, but which can make you feel very ill and can certainly be distressing enough to ruin a holiday or business trip. 
  • Media enquiries to Health Protection Agency London - Emily Collins on 0207 759 2824 or Emily.collins@hpa.org.uk or Claire Kennedy on 020 7759 2834 or email Claire.kennedy@hpa.org.uk.

 

Last reviewed: 14 January 2009