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Travelling Well or not
Mosquito diseases
Humans have been travelling since we could first walk.
There were some problems however.
Early travellers had to carry clothing, equipment, shelter, food, water and even weapons. Some
attackers were microscopic, and many early travellers succumbed to disease.
Thankfully we no longer need much of that tedious preparation. Modern hotels have plentiful
supplies of food and water. Our baggage is lighter, and we don‘t need to carry guns
to ward off wild animals. Germs, however, are still a threat.
Protecting one’s health should still be on every travellers preparation list.
Failing to prepare for good health can have some very unfortunate results……….
Mosquito stings can be avoided by using repellent, wearing long pants and long sleeved shirts.
Hospitals in third world countries often lack the resources to provide proper care.
You are risking your health by failing to take adequate precautions to protect yourself
Which means the results may not be pleasant
Cholera
Potentially deadly water borne diseases like cholera are contracted from drinking untreated
water. You can help prevent these types of diseases
by being vaccinated, treating water with iodine tablets, or boiling water for at least a minute.
If you buy bottled water you should check it has an intact seal.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver contracted by the faecal oral route. To help
prevent spreading it, you need to wash your for 20 seconds, rinse and dry.
Hepatitis A can be contracted from contaminated food, or touching surfaces that have been
used by others
We recommend using hand sanitisers after contact with any surfaces commonly used by the public.
Hepatitis A can also be spread by touching others, especially when shaking hands
Influenza
Influenza is a potentially fatal disease spread by an infected person coughing and sneezing
near others. The influenza vaccine helps prevent the three most common strains.
Rabies
In what may seem an innocent encounter with animals like dogs, cats or monkeys, you may
be exposing yourself to a lethal virus that kills about 50,000 persons a year.
Food diseases
Eating at open market stalls is risky
There are many diseases contracted from poorly prepared and stored food
Typhoid is one of a few food diseases that can be prevented by vaccines
Mountain Sickness Mountain Sickness develops after ascending
over 2500meters. By taking Altitude pills you can help our body cope with the low level
of oxygen at these altitudes
Altitude can affect your balance
Meningitis Meningitis is a potentially fatal disease.
It can be transmitted by contact with respiratory secretions or by touching an object contaminated
by a carrier
and often you dont get the standard of care that you get in Australia
Travellers diarrhoea
Travellers diarrhoea can ruin your trip
Travellers Diarrhoea can be contracted from contaminated food or water
The effects can be very unpleasant
Summary
Our safari couple have had many successful journeys, comfortable in the knowledge that
they prepared themselves well. Good preparation is one of the secrets to
having successful journeys Hello I’m Dr Deb, a travel doctor from the
Travel Medicine Alliance, You’ve just seen in this film, how sometimes
when travelling, things that can wrong.
All these problems were preventable with the right pre travel preparation.
Preparing to travel is more than booking tickets, checking passports and packing your bags
Your body should be prepared as well. The Travel Medicine Alliance is a network
of specially trained travel medicine doctors. Our job is to ensure travellers have the best
chance of avoiding unnecessary illness. Before you travel overseas, you need to be
fully vaccinated, as well as taking along a customized medical kit.
It is never too early to teach good hygiene and health care habits to children.
Setting a good example is a parents responsibility. If YOU adopt good habits, it is more likely
that your children will adopt them too, and it might just save their lives.
Try to see your travel medicine doctor at least 6 weeks before you depart, and together
we’ll make sure you‘re well protected.
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