Experts say travelers leaving the United States should take precautions to guard against these significant health risks.
Hepatitis is a disease that causes inflammation of the liver. Hepatitis A is transmitted under unsanitary conditions and is one of the most common vaccines given, say travel-medicine specialists. Hepatitis B is contracted through unprotected sex and sharing needles.
“Typically, hep A was more of a routine travelers vaccination, but because we are seeing so much more of it in the United States, it has been added to the list of recommended vaccines that should be given to children at age 1,” says Michelle Reesman, executive director of Passport Health Colorado.
“I’ve heard recommendations that if people eat out once a week here in the United States, then they should have the hepatitis A (vaccine) because it’s so easily transmitted by food handlers who don’t use good hygiene,” she says.
Typhoid fever is a common life-threatening illness prevalent in developing countries in Asia, Latin America and Africa. It is contracted by consuming food or drink handled by an infected person shedding salmonella typhi bacteria (found in human feces). It also is found in sewage contaminated with the bacteria, which can get into the water used for drinking or washing food.
“A large part of our client consultation includes talking to people about food and water safety when they travel,” Reesman said. “If the food isn’t boiled or steamed or if they can’t peel it, then don’t eat it. As far as water, just stick to bottled water and break the seal” yourself.
Yellow fever is a virus transmitted to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes. It occurs in tropical regions of sub-Saharan Africa and in parts of South America. In the United States, the vaccine is given only at designated yellow fever vaccination centers. Travelers must have an International Certificate of Vaccination (issued after receiving the yellow fever vaccination) to enter and exit designated countries.
“Patients need to remember that yellow fever vaccines take 10 days to be effective,” Reesman says. “A lot of times we don’t see people until one or two days before they leave. They are going into a yellow fever endemic area and putting themselves at risk.”
Meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and the spinal cord. It is caused by viral or bacterial infection. It is most prevalent along the “meningitis belt” that stretches from Senegal to Ethiopia in the Sahel region of African, says Jeff DesJardin, a doctor specializing in infectious diseases.
Rabies, endemic in India, is a viral disease that spreads to humans who are bitten by an infected animal. It occurs in wild animals, including raccoons, skunks, bats, monkeys and foxes, as well as domestic animals such as cattle, dogs or cats.
“There is a lot of human rabies in India, but that vaccine is something that people tend to overlook,” DesJardin says. “If you are going to be trekking through Nepal for two months and don’t have quick ways to get out of there,” a rabies vaccine is a good idea.
Japanese encephalitis is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. It is most common in rural areas of Asian countries, including China and Thailand.
“I’m seeing a lot of travelers to Southeast Asia who are staying for extended trips but don’t know they need two doses of Japanese encephalitis vaccine given 28 days apart,” Reesman says.
Polio, even though it has been eliminated in the United States, is still endemic in Pakistan, Nigeria, India and Afghanistan. It’s an infectious disease caused by a virus that lives in the throat and intestinal tract.
“We’ve eliminated polio here in the United States, but if you are traveling to those areas, you need to get an adult polio booster even if you’ve had a childhood series of vaccines,” says Pam Steele, a Larimer County public health nurse.
Tips to keep safe when traveling abroad
Use these tips to keep safe when traveling or vacationing abroad:
• Check with health insurance providers to make sure travelers are covered when overseas.
• Avoid foods and drinks that are not boiled, steamed or peelable. Vegetables like lettuce and tomatoes are easily contaminated and are difficult to wash well.
• Don’t have drinks filled with ice, as the ice may have been made with contaminated water. Avoid popsicles and flavored ices. Use bottled water when brushing your teeth.
• If staying for extended periods of time, take along a water purifier.
• Avoid foods and drinks from street vendors. It’s difficult for food to be kept clean on the street, and many travelers get sick from food bought from street vendors.
• Keep a spare pair of glasses and the prescription handy.
• Keep additional prescription medicines on hand if health care access is limited, making sure the medicines are in their original containers. And don’t pack the medicine in your checked luggage.
• In the event of an emergency, know what number to call in a host country.
• Check with a host-country consulate to make sure American prescriptions aren’t controlled substances in another country.
• A flu shot is recommended, even when traveling someplace warm. The seasonal flu is transmitted yearly into the tropics and subtropics.
• Notify mental health counselors or therapists about travel plans if medications are needed for extended stays.
• Know a country’s rules and procedures when dealing with someone who is infected. Some countries require immediate quarantines or temperature screenings that could be at the traveler’s expense.
source: theolympian
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