Health issues when travelling abroad

Information

Your health should be one of your priorities when planning a trip abroad. Today, more and more Irish citizens are travelling internationally for professional, recreational, social and humanitarian reasons. Given we are travelling greater distances and to a wide variety of countries, sometimes this can expose our health to risks in often unfamiliar environments.

Hopefully, your trip abroad will be free of any health scares, but you need to be prepared to meet every eventuality. Most of the health risks associated with travel, can be minimized by suitable precautions taken before, during and after your trip. Coping with illness is difficult at the best of times and it can appear even worse when you are far from home. You should ensure that you have taken every possible precaution to avoid such a scenario and, if the worst comes to the worst, you should be confident that you have organised the necessary insurance to pay for the medical care you require.

Some key factors in determining risks to your health when travelling abroad include:

• destination you are visiting
• duration of your visit
• purpose of visit
• standards of accommodation
• food hygiene, and
• behaviour of the traveller

Medical advice before you travel

If you are intending to visit somewhere in a developing country, you should consult with your family doctor (GP) or a travel medicine clinic before the journey. This consultation should preferably take place 4–6 weeks before the journey, particularly if vaccination(s) may be required. Your family doctor or clinic can advise you on this.

Similarly, if you have a pre-existing medical condition that requires ongoing care, or are among an 'at risk' group it is advisable to seek medical advice in advance of your journey. This makes sense if you are taking prescribed medication or will be abroad for a prolonged period.

Vaccinations and immunisations

Vaccinations and immunisations are required in order to travel to certain countries around the world. They should be considered if you are travelling to areas outside of Western Europe, North America, Australia, and New Zealand. Your family doctor (GP) or travel medicine clinic can advise on your options.

Travelling within the EU/EEA

If you are a EU/EEA citizen and your trip is to a destination within the EEA (the 27 EU member states, Norway Iceland, Liechtenstein) or Switzerland, you are strongly advised to bring along a free European Health Insurance Card. This Card will cover the cost associated with necessary medical treatment (if required) while you are visiting another member state.

Travelling outside the EU/EEA

If you will be travelling outside the EU/EEA, you are strongly advised to seek specific holiday or health insurance before you travel. Insurance rates in Ireland can vary significantly, so shop around for the best value before your trip.

The World Health Organization has provided a very useful site with lots of information and advice regarding health and international travel.

A checklist for travellers

A little time spent checking out the following information before your trip will also ensure you are well prepared.

• What local conditions do I need to be aware of?
• Do I need vaccines to prevent illness or health risks?
• Which authorities do I contact in the event of an accident or incident?
• Do I need any additional medical prescriptions before I travel?
• What blood group am I?
• Do I need a dental/optical/medical check-up before I travel?

Your family doctor (GP) or tropical medical bureau can answer some of the above questions. It's also sensible (depending on your destination) to check with your dentist/optician whether you may need a check-up before you travel.

Your travel agent/tour operator/trip organiser should be able to provide information on the local weather, accommodation, health facilities and other conditions before your journey. Travel guidebooks are also a good source of information. You can also get in touch with the nearest Embassy or Consulate of the country you will be visiting for more information.

As stated above, most health risks are preventable and can be minimised by sensible, suitable precautions taken before, during and after travel. Your trip abroad should be an enjoyable journey to a new country and to meet new people.