OK, you're vaccinated, you're careful about what to eat and drink and
you are doing your best to prevent insect bites. What else should you
look out for?
Road traffic accidents
These are the leading cause of death in young overseas travellers, particularly when riding mopeds. Travellers should exercise particular caution when cycling or riding mopeds (always wear helmets), with safety conditions (eg seat belts) in cars, buses, trucks etc. Road accidents are 40 times more likely to happen in developing countries.
Swimming
Accidents associated with swimming are more likely to happen through swimming just after a meal; having drunk alcohol; going too far off shore; or swimming at night. In some developing countries you should have a blood test three months after swimming to check for a fresh water parasite Schistosomiasis.
Long haul flights
The risk of blood clots on long-haul flights is very small and can be minimised by moving around the aircraft cabin every one to two hours; tensing the muscles of your legs to encourage blood flow and drinking lots of non-gassy water. Taking aspirin or using flight stockings are of questionable benefit.
Sunburn
Bring total sunblock or a very high protection sunscreen. Creams with this level of protection can be difficult to find abroad. Most sunburn occurs between 10 am and 3pm and the risk is particularly high if you are out on the water, where the breeze and the rays off the water can burn you before you realise it.
Rabies
This disease is absent from Ireland, the UK, New Zealand, Australia and a few other countries. Rabies is a viral infection that circulates among warm-blooded animals. Humans get infected if the saliva of the infected animal breaks the skin barrier, after a bite or if an animal licks a cut on your skin. In countries where rabies is prevalent, be very cautious near animals. The correct kind of preventative treatment initiated within two days of exposure, or four days if vaccinated against rabies, will remove the risk of rabies developing.
If you think you have been exposed to rabies, seek medical attention at a modern clinic within two days and send an email to your travel health clinic, as they will be able to provide an opinion on whether follow-up rabies prevention treatment is warranted and what treatment you need.
The rabies vaccine given to people before travel provides only partial protection but, if exposed to the rabies virus, gives you more time to seek medical help and will make your follow-up treatment less complicated.
Altitude
At altitudes above 10,000 feet you may notice effects such as tiredness, shortness of breath, headache, nausea etc. Ask your travel health centre for detailed advice on this.
Road traffic accidents
These are the leading cause of death in young overseas travellers, particularly when riding mopeds. Travellers should exercise particular caution when cycling or riding mopeds (always wear helmets), with safety conditions (eg seat belts) in cars, buses, trucks etc. Road accidents are 40 times more likely to happen in developing countries.
Swimming
Accidents associated with swimming are more likely to happen through swimming just after a meal; having drunk alcohol; going too far off shore; or swimming at night. In some developing countries you should have a blood test three months after swimming to check for a fresh water parasite Schistosomiasis.
Long haul flights
The risk of blood clots on long-haul flights is very small and can be minimised by moving around the aircraft cabin every one to two hours; tensing the muscles of your legs to encourage blood flow and drinking lots of non-gassy water. Taking aspirin or using flight stockings are of questionable benefit.
Sunburn
Bring total sunblock or a very high protection sunscreen. Creams with this level of protection can be difficult to find abroad. Most sunburn occurs between 10 am and 3pm and the risk is particularly high if you are out on the water, where the breeze and the rays off the water can burn you before you realise it.
Rabies
This disease is absent from Ireland, the UK, New Zealand, Australia and a few other countries. Rabies is a viral infection that circulates among warm-blooded animals. Humans get infected if the saliva of the infected animal breaks the skin barrier, after a bite or if an animal licks a cut on your skin. In countries where rabies is prevalent, be very cautious near animals. The correct kind of preventative treatment initiated within two days of exposure, or four days if vaccinated against rabies, will remove the risk of rabies developing.
If you think you have been exposed to rabies, seek medical attention at a modern clinic within two days and send an email to your travel health clinic, as they will be able to provide an opinion on whether follow-up rabies prevention treatment is warranted and what treatment you need.
The rabies vaccine given to people before travel provides only partial protection but, if exposed to the rabies virus, gives you more time to seek medical help and will make your follow-up treatment less complicated.
Altitude
At altitudes above 10,000 feet you may notice effects such as tiredness, shortness of breath, headache, nausea etc. Ask your travel health centre for detailed advice on this.
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