How to avoid getting sick while travelling

Young woman wearing face mask in the street.

Jet-setting Australians are getting plagued by travel sickness, but how on earth are we meant to avoid it?!

For starters, new research shows that Australian travellers are losing precious holiday time as they’re not aware of the health risks associated with travel.

Travellers who fell sick on their last trip to an ‘at-risk’ destination spent about one-third (31 per cent) of their holiday bedridden or unwell.

While Aussies are travelling to ‘at-risk’ destinations including South East Asia, South and Central America, Africa and the Middle East in record numbers, new research by Sanofi Pasteur shows.

On top of that, 42 per cent of these travellers aren’t getting health advice that could protect them against serious travel-related diseases.

These diseases include hepatitis A, rabies, typhoid fever and yellow fever, which have the potential to ruin holidays and leave people with long-term symptoms.

Impact of illness and pre-travel attitudes

In the last year, over half (58 per cent) of Aussie travellers who fell ill on their last trip took between one to three days off work as a result of a travel-related illness.

Surprisingly, three in five Australian ‘at-risk’ travellers have never thought about bringing an illness home and more than half (55 per cent) incorrectly believe they can’t expose their loved ones to diseases unless there are obvious symptoms.

The study also revealed that 84 per cent of travellers to ‘at-risk’ destinations are more likely to purchase travel insurance than receive necessary vaccinations.

Some 34 per cent incorrectly thought vaccinations weren’t needed for the countries they visited and 19 per cent didn’t believe they were at risk of a disease while travelling.

Travel Advice

Travel health specialist, Dr Bernard Hudson, a Sydney Infectious Diseases Specialist, is urging people to get the right health advice at least six weeks before they travel.

“Holidaymakers who prioritise itineraries over their own health are putting themselves and potentially those around them at risk, especially if they’re visiting high risk destinations” he said.

“The reality is, no one wants to be bedridden on holiday, have to take time off work when they return or spread a travel-related disease to their loved ones.”

“It doesn’t take much to get the right health advice before you take off.”

Aussie traveller, Jonathon Tait, didn’t seek travel health advice before jet-setting to Sri Lanka for a surf trip and fell ill with a fever that left him bedridden for three days.

After being bitten by mosquitos, Tait believed he may have contracted a severe travel illness, especially because he had not sought any preventative health advice before travelling. Luckily the prognosis was not very serious, but not knowing the risks involved meant that Tait was jeopardising his health for a good wave.

“I was much more interested in planning the trip itself than looking after my health which led me to think the worst when I did get sick,” he said.

“Not only did I waste time in bed on holiday but I was also forced to call in sick to work once back home.

“In hindsight, I should have seen my doctor before I left and I can only take my experience as a learning curve. I wouldn’t risk it again.”

Dr Hudson said his advice is simple.

“See your GP or a travel doctor preferably six weeks prior to departure to get the right advice before you go. However, there are some vaccinations and anti-malarials that can provide protection for last minute travellers.”

“Depending on your destination you may need medication, vaccinations or other advice. Make it a top priority, just as you would your plane tickets and insurance.”

For more information, visit websites such as www.vaccinehub.com.au and www.smartraveller.gov.au for additional travel support before departing on your next overseas trip.

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Email the Travel Weekly team at traveldesk@travelweekly.com.au

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