If you are planning to travel outside the UK, visit the https://travelhealthpro.org.uk website for a one stop shop for information for information to help plan your trip abroad.
Ideally travellers should consult their GP, practice nurse, pharmacist, or travel clinic 4 - 6 weeks before their trip for individual advice, travel vaccines and malaria prevention tablets, if relevant for their destination.
Even if you have visited or lived in a country before, you will not have the same protection against infections as local people and are still at risk.
You should also check that:
- your routine childhood vaccines are in date
- you have good supplies of any medicines and
- you get valid travel insurance for the whole of your trip
If you already have health problems, are pregnant or trying to get pregnant you may need additional health advice or antimalarial tablets for certain countries.
Remember: it is never too late to get travel advice before you go; many travel clinics and pharmacies offer last-minute appointments.
What to remember while abroad
If visiting areas with insects that spread disease like malaria or dengue, make sure you use insect repellent, cover exposed skin and sleep under an insecticide-treated bed net if you are not staying in air-conditioned accommodation.
If you have been prescribed antimalarial tablets, follow all instructions carefully (including starting before travel) and remember to complete the course when you are back in the UK. Diseases spread by contaminated food and drinks are more common in countries with lower food hygiene standards, basic toilet and washing facilities and poor access to clean water.
Wash your hands frequently, especially before preparing food, eating or drinking and after using the toilet.
Avian flu is a risk worldwide – avoid all contact with birds (alive or dead) including pets, domestic poultry and wild birds. Stay away from live bird/animal markets and poultry farms when possible and avoid eating undercooked poultry. Rabies is a serious illness and can be fatal if treatment is not given rapidly. You may be at risk if you come into contact with saliva from an infected animal through a bite, scratch or lick on broken skin.
All animals, including cats, dogs, monkeys and bats, can carry rabies, so avoid contact with wild and domestic animals where possible. After an animal bite, scratch or lick on broken skin:
- Wash the area thoroughly with soap and water.
- Seek medical attention locally.
You may be advised to start rabies post-exposure treatment, but always contact your GP on return to the UK to complete any treatment required.
If you feel unwell
If you have symptoms like fever (38˚C or more), flu-like illness, a rash or persistent and/or bloody diarrhoea during or after travel you must get medical help locally.
Do not wait until you come back to the UK if you are ill abroad, see a doctor or attend a clinic.
Remember to tell your doctor about any trips abroad you have taken in the past year.
If you visited a malaria-risk area, you must seek immediate medical care if you develop a fever of 38˚C or above (or any other symptoms that could be malaria) within a year of your trip.
Finally, please do ensure you have travel insurance for the whole of your trip.
