VIC Medical Doctors Northcote

Travel Medicine 

 

What should you do to protect yourself from infectious diseases while overseas?

Before you leave

1. Research your destination and planned activities

The risk of infectious disease differs greatly depending on where you intend to travel and what activities you plan to undertake while overseas. In particular consider:

• Will you be travelling to countries in which food or water quality might be of a lower standard?

  • Contaminated food and water can increase the risk of acquiring infections such as gastroenteritis, hepatitis A and some parasites.

• Will you be travelling to wilderness or rural areas where you are likely to be exposed to farm animals or wildlife?

  • Animals in many parts of the world may carry rabies. Diseases carried by ticks and mosquitoes are a risk in wilderness areas of many parts of the world unless preventative measures are taken.

• Will you be spending a lot of time outdoors where you might be exposed to mosquitoes?

  • Mosquitoes can carry serious diseases including malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever.

Information on the health risks associated with many destinations can be found online at:

• Smartraveller

• World Health Organization

We also suggest you get in touch with the foreign missions of all of the countries you intend to visit or transit through. They can give you specific information about particular health requirements in their countries (e.g. vaccines you may need or medicines you should bring with you). They can also provide you with other information about their country that you could find useful or important.

2. See a doctor well in advance before you leave – even if you are well

Your doctor can advise you on measures which can be taken to avoid infectious diseases to which you might be exposed while overseas. This might include measures to avoid consuming potentially contaminated water or food, medication to reduce the risk of acquiring infections or vaccination against serious disease.

Immunisation:

Many diseases which are a risk to travellers can be prevented by immunisation. You should talk to your doctor about any vaccines or boosters you may need. Some diseases that should be considered are:

• Hepatitis A

• Hepatitis B

• Influenza

• Japanese encephalitis

• Meningococcal disease

• Rabies

• Tuberculosis

• Typhoid

• Varicella (Chickenpox)

• Yellow fever

• Cholera

• Measles

Some countries still suffer high rates of infection from diseases that are rare in Australia due to our routine childhood vaccination. If you were born overseas, and you are returning to visit friends and family, you should still check with your doctor if you need any immunisations. Your immunity to some diseases may have changed or diminished with time.

Immunisations which are now routine in childhood in Australia should also be considered if travelling to areas where these diseases remain common. Depending on your age and previous medical history, you may not be protected against diseases such measles or polio. It is important to schedule a visit to your doctor at least 6-8 weeks before you travel to allow time to complete any vaccination schedule you undertake.

It is important to note that people who are one year of age or older will be asked to provide an international vaccination certificate for yellow fever if, within six days before arriving in Australia, they have stayed overnight or longer in a yellow fever risk country. Further information for travellers about yellow fever vaccination requirements can be found at Department of Health | Yellow fever - general fact sheet

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Source: The Department of Health