Holiday makers warned – seek the right advice before tripping abroad
14 July 2008
As the summer holidays fast approach and people across Yorkshire and the Humber begin packing their suitcases for their holidays, the Health Protection Agency are reminding them about the importance of seeking the correct health advice before they leave.
The advice comes as more UK residents choose tropical destinations for their summer holidays where they are more likely to contract a number of infections, from serious diseases passed on by insect bites to stomach bugs picked up through contaminated food or water.
Malaria is the most common imported infection with approximately 2,000 cases of the disease occurring in UK travellers each year. Malaria is contracted from mosquito bites and the more serious form of the disease can be rapidly fatal. The most significant cause of malaria in UK travellers is failure to take appropriate preventative treatment.
Dr Martin Schweiger, Consultant in Communicable Disease Control at West Yorkshire Health Protection Unit, is warning that the majority of these cases could be avoided if people took the simple steps of seeking the correct advice and medication before travelling.
Dr Schweiger said: “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. Anyone who intends to visit a warm climate country should consult a travel medicine clinic or medical practitioner before their holiday. This should be arranged at least 4 to 8 weeks before they travel, preferably earlier if they are staying abroad long-term or taking part in overseas work.
“This is important as many preventive medications for diseases like Malaria are effective, but have to be started before travel, and taken consistently throughout the trip and for a period after return.
Not all diseases transmitted by mosquitoes can be prevented with vaccinations or preventative medication and so the only reliable 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 a mosquito netting around your sleeping area at night time.”
The Health Protection Agency Yorkshire and the Humber are also reminding holiday makers to avoid consuming food and water that could be contaminated, to prevent them from falling ill from food poisoning whilst abroad.
Dr Schweiger added: “To prevent picking up any stomach bugs or even a more serious form of food poisoning whilst abroad, you should only eat thoroughly cooked food and drink only well-sealed bottled or packaged cold drinks. If the safety of water is doubtful, it should be boiled and cooled before drinking and where this is not possible, a certified well-maintained filter and/or disinfectant agent can be used. If diarrhoea symptoms do start it is essential to drink fluids often to maintain fluid levels in the body.”
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.
Ends
Issued by Charlotte Farrar
0113 284 0618
07810 684 104
Last reviewed: 20 October 2008
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