Travel Health Advice

Mosquitoes can transmit infections such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and others. Many of these diseases are present in tropical and subtropical regions.

Key Prevention Measures:

• Use insect repellent containing DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus oil.
• Apply repellent regularly, especially after sweating or swimming.
• Wear long sleeves and long trousers, particularly at dawn and dusk when many mosquitoes are most active.
• Choose accommodation with air‑conditioning or intact window screens.
• Use a mosquito net (preferably treated with insecticide) if sleeping in unscreened rooms.
• Avoid areas with standing water, where mosquitoes breed.

➡️More information on Insect bite avoidance

Contaminated food and water can cause illnesses such as traveller’s diarrhoea, cholera, typhoid, and hepatitis A.  Careful hygiene can reduce your risk.

During Travel:

Safer food choices:

• Eat food that is freshly cooked and served hot.
• Choose fruit and vegetables that you can peel yourself.
• Avoid salads, raw seafood, and food kept warm for long periods.

Safer water choices:

• Drink sealed bottled water or water that has been boiled or treated.
• Avoid ice unless you are sure it is made from safe water.
• Use safe water for brushing teeth.

General hygiene:

• Wash hands with soap and water before eating.
• Use alcohol hand gel when handwashing isn’t possible.

If you become unwell:

Traveller’s diarrhoea is common. Most cases improve within a few days, but seek medical help if you have:

• High fever
• Blood in stools
• Severe dehydration
• Symptoms lasting more than 3–5 days

➡️More information on Food and Water Hygiene

Rabies is a very serious viral infection that is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. TravelHealthPro highlights that rabies occurs in over 150 countries, mainly in Asia and Africa, and that dogs cause up to 99% of human cases.

How Rabies Spreads:

• Through bites or scratches from infected animals (especially dogs, bats, cats, monkeys).
• Through saliva contacting broken skin or mucous membranes.

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Before Travel:

• Consider pre‑exposure rabies vaccination if you are travelling to:

• High‑risk countries
• Remote areas with limited medical access
• Working with animals (e.g., vets, volunteers)

During Travel:

• Do not pet or feed animals, even if they appear healthy.
• Supervise children closely — 40% of rabies cases occur in children under 15.

If you are bitten or scratched act immediately:

1. Wash the wound thoroughly with soap and running water for at least 15 minutes.
2. Apply an antiseptic if available.
3. Seek urgent medical care — post‑exposure treatment can prevent rabies.
4. Report the incident to a healthcare professional on return to the UK.

➡️ More information about Rabies