A new study says Australians are putting themselves at risk of contracting serious diseases while travelling overseas. Researchers from the University of Sydney’s Family Medicine Research Centre found more than three-in-five Australians do not seek professional health advice before flying. With many visiting destinations carrying a risk of infectious diseases, including hepatitis A and B, typhoid fever and rabies, doctors are reminding international travellers to seek professional health advice before travelling.
Medical director of The Travel Doctor Clinic Dr Deb Mills says the health consequences of travelling overseas can range from trivial to life-threatening.
“Certainly, only a few travellers get really ill. However those who seek pre-travel advice are better placed to avoid illness and look after their health while away.”
Among the 670 research respondents, only 30 per cent obtained travel advice from a GP before departure and a further 4 per cent sought advice from a travel clinic.
“Wise travellers are armed with a medical kit, vaccinations and information to help them stay healthy. Many precautions are simple with the right knowledge, for example, avoiding food and water diseases and bed bugs, and protecting against altitude sickness,” Dr Mills says.
In addition, a low proportion of patients were fully vaccinated before travelling to an at-risk destination for infectious diseases. It varied from 51 per cent for Hepatitis A and 45 per cent for typhoid to 3 per cent for rabies and 1.5 per cent for Japanese encephalitis.
The most common reasons for not being fully vaccinated were patient refusal (32 per cent); GP considered vaccination unnecessary (23 per cent); not telling their GP they were heading overseas (14 per cent); or leaving the visit too late to fully vaccinate (7 per cent).
“While each traveller has individual requirements depending on where they’re going and what they’ll be doing, as a general rule, it’s advisable to see a travel doctor or GP at least 6-to-8 weeks before departure,” says Dr Mills.
Top Tips to Stay Healthy While Travelling
- Overseas travellers have a 50 per cent chance of suffering from a travel-related illness.
- The most common travel-related sickness is gastrointestinal infection which is generally picked up from poorly prepared food and untreated water.
- Have a medical checkup to make sure you are healthy before you travel.
- Discuss vaccinations with your doctor.
- Be prepared and aware of health issues when travelling.
- Update your vaccinations and ask about other immunisations.
- Pack a medical kit for yourself and any children travelling with you. Make sure you pack enough of any medications you need, or take a prescription.
- Organise travel insurance, including cover if you need to be evacuated to a suitable hospital.
- Have a dental checkup.
- Have a vision check and pack a spare pair of glasses.
Featured image by David Goehring
