Visiting friends and relatives abroad: advice for travellers

Put together forward to scale back potential well being dangers overseas, even when visiting buddies and relations.

It’s possible you’ll be susceptible to ailments unfold by mosquitoes or animals, corresponding to dengue, Zika and rabies and infections unfold by contaminated foods and drinks, like typhoid and travellers’ diarrhoea.

Examine for those who want vaccines or antimalarial tablets earlier than you go.

Comply with good meals and water hygiene guidelines and keep away from consuming or dealing with bush meat.

You aren’t naturally protected in opposition to ailments like malaria or typhoid even for those who grew up, lived in, or recurrently go to danger nations.

Most UK malaria and typhoid instances are reported in individuals who travelled to nations they go to continuously or used to dwell in.

What to do earlier than travelling

Examine well being dangers in your locations and how you can cut back them, utilizing the National Travel Health Network and Centre’s (NaTHNaC) country information pages.

Even you probably have visited or lived in a rustic earlier than, you’ll not have the identical safety in opposition to infections as native individuals and are nonetheless in danger.

See your GP, follow nurse, pharmacist or journey clinic 4 to six weeks earlier than journey for particular person recommendation, journey vaccines and malaria prevention, if related in your vacation spot.

You must also test that:

• your routine childhood vaccines are in date
• you’ve good provides of any medicines and
• you get legitimate journey insurance coverage for the entire of your journey

If you have already got well being issues, are pregnant or attempting to get pregnant chances are you’ll want extra well being recommendation or antimalarial tablets for sure nations.

Bear in mind: it’s by no means too late to get journey recommendation earlier than you go; many journey clinics and pharmacies provide last-minute appointments.

What to recollect whereas overseas

If visiting areas with bugs that unfold illness like malaria or dengue, ensure you use insect repellent, cowl uncovered pores and skin and sleep below an insecticide-treated mattress internet if you’re not staying in air-conditioned lodging.

If in case you have been prescribed antimalarial tablets, observe all directions rigorously (together with beginning earlier than journey) and keep in mind to finish the course when you’re again within the UK.

Ailments unfold by contaminated meals and drinks are extra frequent in nations with decrease meals hygiene requirements, primary bathroom and washing amenities and poor entry to scrub water.

Wash your fingers continuously, particularly earlier than getting ready meals, consuming or consuming and after utilizing the bathroom.

Avian flu is a danger worldwide – keep away from all contact with birds (alive or lifeless) together with pets, home poultry and wild birds. Avoid dwell chook/animal markets and poultry farms when attainable and keep away from consuming undercooked poultry.

Rabies is a severe sickness and might be deadly if therapy isn’t given quickly. It’s possible you’ll be in danger for those who come into contact with saliva from an contaminated animal by means of a chunk, scratch or lick on damaged pores and skin.

All animals, together with cats, canines, monkeys and bats, can carry rabies, so keep away from contact with wild and home animals the place attainable. After an animal chunk, scratch or lick on damaged pores and skin:

1. Wash the world completely with cleaning soap and water.
2. Search medical consideration regionally.

It’s possible you’ll be suggested to start out rabies post-exposure therapy, however all the time contact your GP on return to the UK to finish any therapy required.

If you happen to really feel unwell

If in case you have signs like fever (38˚C or extra), flu-like sickness, a rash or persistent and/or bloody diarrhoea throughout or after journey you have to get medical assist regionally.

Don’t wait till you come again to the UK if you’re ailing overseas, see a physician or attend a clinic.

Bear in mind to inform your physician about any journeys overseas you’ve taken prior to now 12 months.

If you happen to visited a malaria-risk space, you have to search fast medical care for those who develop a fever of 38˚C or above (or every other signs that may very well be malaria) inside a 12 months of your journey.

Additional info

General advice for travellers.

Advice for visiting friends and relatives.