After the semester comes to an end, students and faculty look forward to traveling during winter break. Although it can be a great way to relax and unwind, traveling poses potential health risks that must be kept in mind.
According to Asst. Infectious Diseases Prof. Tania Thomas, a specialist at the University’s Traveler’s Clinic, those going abroad during the winter months should focus on preventing respiratory infections, mosquito borne illnesses and traveler’s diarrhea.
Thomas urges students to practice good respiratory hygiene regardless of where they travel, as the flu follows a different seasonal pattern in other parts of the world.
“Preventing yourself from getting bitten by a mosquito can be very helpful in maintaining health, as far as staying malaria-free or staying free from viruses like Dengue virus or Chikungunya virus, yellow fever virus in parts of Central, South America and West Africa and Japanese Encephalitis, which is also a viral infection that is transmitted by mosquitoes throughout parts of Asia, not just Japan.” Thomas said.
Taking measures such as wearing long sleeves and pants, using and re-applying bug spray several times a day and pre-treating clothes with permethrin, an odorless chemical that wards off ticks, chiggers and mosquitoes, can go a long way to prevent various mosquito-related illnesses, according to Thomas.
Another risk when traveling overseas is traveler’s diarrhea, which is caused by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.
“When we counsel people about [traveler’s diarrhea], we have our mantra of ‘Boil it, peel it, cook it or forget it’ when you’re making food choices, and that generally applies to meats, poultry, eggs, fish and then fresh fruits and produce as well,” Thomas said.
Thomas noted the effectiveness of certain over-the-counter medications such as Imodium and Pepto-Bismol, the latter of which has anti-microbial properties that can prevent traveler’s diarrhea and aid in symptom relief.
Thomas and her colleagues also recommend tourists stick with bottled water to ensure clean drinking water. People who travel for long periods of time can explore other water purification techniques.
Dr. Anjali Silva, Elson Student Health staff physician, recommends that students either look into medical travel insurance to add an extra layer of protection, or to join the International Association of Medical Assistance to Travelers, a free service that connects travelers to English-speaking doctors abroad.
For students and faculty traveling domestically, Silva said, “the most common cause of injury while people are traveling is actually motor vehicle accidents.”
Silva advises students to take frequent breaks while driving, especially if they are tired after finals.
When traveling in public spaces like subways and airplanes, Silva mentioned that the most important thing to keep in mind is regular hand washing, as people’s hands will come into contact with potentially infectious illnesses from touching handrails and cabin seats.
“Sometimes if you don't have access to [hand washing], you may want to make sure you have hand sanitizer and things like that so you’re kind of keeping everything clean,” Silva said.
Silva noted most people do not get as much rest when traveling and increase their risk to contracting illnesses. Simply, it is important to stay hydrated and rest from a long day’s worth of traveling.
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