Photo. Out in the desert in Jordan on a secret ancient trail to Petra. © Travel Explorations.
International travel can pose various risks to health, depending on the characteristics of both the traveller and the travel. The best source for updated information and advice is found on WHO`s website. It`s especially important to keep updated about the Malaria situation in some regions and countries.
WHO is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. As WHO consider it (from a recent report available on WHO`s website: www.who.int/en); forward planning, appropriate preventive measures and careful precautions can substantially reduce the risks of adverse health consequences.
According to information on WHO`s website, the risks associated with international travel are influenced by characteristics of the traveller (including age, sex and health status) and by characteristics of the travel (including destination, purpose and duration).
Report about International travel and health - new 2007 edition:
The publication covers vaccination requirements, travel risks and precautions. This report provides also information about main health risks for travellers. Here you can also find a useful checklist and general advice Click on the link for more information: http://www.who.int/ith/en/
It’s possible to download chapters from the report. This report can also be ordered through WHO.
Travellers may encounter sudden and significant changes in altitude, humidity, microbes and temperature, which can result in ill-health. In addition, serious health risks may arise in areas where accommodation is of poor quality, hygiene and sanitation are inadequate, medical services are not well developed and clean water is unavailable.
All people planning travel should become informed about the potential hazards of the countries they are travelling to and learn how to minimize any risk to their health.
The medical profession and the travel industry can provide a great deal of help and advice, but WHO underline that it is the traveller’s responsibility to ask for information, to understand the risks involved, and to take the necessary precautions for the journey.
The information from WHO is very much strict. WHO gives strong warnings, and can make many travellers unnecessary worried. Anyway it’s better to be on the safe side. A general rule is that travellers should ask their local medical office for advice before they set out in the big world.
Travel-related risks
Key factors in determining the risks to which travellers may be exposed to are:
- destination
- duration of visit
- purpose of visit
- standards of accommodation and food hygiene
- behaviour of the traveller.
Read more about health topics and advice on WHO`s website regarding:
• Medical consultation before travel
• Medical kit and toilet items
• Travellers with pre-existing medical conditions and special needs
• Insurance for travellers
• Role of travel industry professionals
• Responsibility of the traveller
• Insurance for travellers
• Medical examination after travel
You can also find information in Lonely Planet`s books about health and safety precautions for several countries. For more information: www.LonelyPlanet.com
Stein Morten Lund, 24 August 2007
Additional information
WHO - World Health Organization - is the directing and coordinating authority for health within the United Nations system. It is responsible for providing leadership on global health matters, shaping the health research agenda, setting norms and standards, articulating evidence-based policy options, providing technical support to countries and monitoring and assessing health trends.
WHO`s website: www.who.int/en
WHO offers a guide to minimising health risks and dealing with problems while on the journey - read the report about International travel and health 2007: WHO report travel safety.
WHO`s country list:
Yellow fever vaccination requirements, recommendations and malaria situation. The information provided for each country includes the requirements for mandatory yellow fever vaccination, recommendations for yellow fever vaccination and details concerning the malaria situation and recommended prevention. Click here for more information: WHO`s country list.
Malaria:
Malaria is both preventable and curable, according to WHO.
- A child dies of malaria every 30 seconds.
- More than one million people die of malaria every year, mostly infants, young children and pregnant women and most of them in Africa.
Infection and transmission:
Malaria is a disease which can be transmitted to people of all ages. It is caused by parasites of the species Plasmodium that are spread from person to person through the bites of infected mosquitoes. The common first symptoms–fever, headache, chills, and vomiting–appear 10 to 15 days after a person is infected. If not treated promptly with effective medicines, malaria can cause severe illness that is often fatal.
There are four types of human malaria – Plasmodium falciparum, P.vivax, P.malariae, and P.ovale. P.falciparum and P.vivax are the most common. P.falciparum is by far the most deadly type of malaria infection.
Malaria transmission differs in intensity and regularity depending on local factors such as rainfall patterns, proximity of mosquito breeding sites and mosquito species. Some regions have a fairly constant number of cases throughout the year. These are malaria endemic–whereas in other areas there are “malaria” seasons, usually coinciding with the rainy season.
Click on the link for more information: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs094/en/index.html
For more information contact:
WHO Media centre
Telephone: +41 22 791 2222
E-mail: mediainquiries@who.int
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