Protecting yourself from Travel-related Diseases

Most travelers underestimate the risk of travel-related diseases. For example, while many travelers are aware of Malaria, Dengue fever has taken over in many non tropical locations as the most prominent disease.  Recently a tropical disease specialist, Susanne Pechel in Munich, Germany, was quoted as saying: “Dengue is the disease most often carried back from Asia.”  See an interactive global map of dengue activity.

Another common travel-related disease that is even less well known is Chikungunya fever, which is a virus transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Symptoms of this disease include joint swelling and fever. There is no specific treatment for this virus, and 1.5 million cases of this virus were reported last year in India.

These diseases are carried by travelers back to their home country and can affect others and even spread, so it’s important to take steps to protect the spread of infections.

Learn more about the diseases that are commonly recognized in a country where you plan to travel by checking into the Center for Disease Control and Prevention Traveler’s Health website. Select your destination and get health information, review current travel notices, and get information about how to stay healthy on that trip.

Of course, making sure you have adequate travel medical and evacuation coverage can ensure that a diagnosis during your trip will not cause you significant financial harm as well, so know before you go AND protect yourself while on your trip.