Below is some general travel health information but for more detailed information
about where you are going and what vaccinations you will need,
visit the Fit for Travel Website.

Click here to fill in the travel health form

Travelling around the world always brings with it some risk to health. However, by taking certain, often simple, steps you can minimise your exposure to almost every major health hazard.

Plan ahead before you travel abroad:

Checklist -

1. Consult your Practice Nurse or GP well in advance to arrange and plan your holiday vaccinations and foreign travel advice. Normally this will be six to eight weeks before departure but it may be up to six months if a more unusual destination is planned.
2. Consider having a dental health check-up and a medical check up (especially if you currently take medication prescribed by your GP).
3. Remember to take all your current medication with you ensuring a sufficient supply to last the holiday!
4. Take a basic first aid kit/emergency first aid kit (if travelling to remote areas of the world). [Insect repellent (inc DEET), basic painkillers and paediatric painkiller solutions, plenty suntan lotion with a high SPF - >25 initially, rehydration solution, supply of CE ? condoms, some basic dressings/plasters for cuts/grazes, antiseptic cream/lotion].
5. Always take out adequate medical insurance before departing and always read the small print!
6. Never inject drugs or share needles/syringes whilst abroad and avoid having tattoos or your ears/body pierced as sterility is very dubious, if it exists at all.
7. Remember if you take alcohol or use drugs this will impair your judgement while travelling and could lead to problems occurring.
8. Always leave an address/contact of your holiday destination and date of departure/return with a neighbour, friend or family member. Make sure property is secure and safe. Consider telling police/neighbourhood watch if a long stay holiday.

Some vaccines which are commonly given are:

Tetanus	Polio	Yellow Fever	Hepatitis A	Hepatitis B
Meningitis (A&C)	Rabies	Diphtheria	Typhoid	Malaria tablets

Others that are available are Japanese B Encephalitis, Tick-borne Encephalitis.

Rabies: Infection is usually via the bite of a rabid animal. These animals could include foxes, dogs, cats, bats and cattle. It occurs in all continents except Antarctica and Australia.

Malaria: This disease is spread by the bite of the infected mosquito. Malaria produces very high fevers, rigors, sweats, ‘flu-like symptoms. Complications can affect the brain, kidneys, liver and blood and can be fatal.

Tablets, prescribed by your GP, are taken to prevent malaria and one needs to consider other forms of mosquito bite precaution, insect repellent including DEET, mosquito nets and coils, air conditioning and wearing long sleeves/trousers at dusk.

On return to the United Kingdom report any ‘flu-like symptoms or fevers to your GP anything from return up to one year post travel. A full history is necessary and all the countries visited.

Yellow Fever: This fever illness is spread by the bite of infected mosquitoes, mainly in tropical Africa and South America.

Typhoid: This fever is spread via the faecal-oral route, mainly by contaminated water and food and is usually the result of poor food or personal hygiene.

Tetanus: This is a dangerous disease which causes severe and painful muscle spasms and is caught by the introduction of bacterial spores into the body through even a slight wound. The spores are mainly found in soil and manure.

Polio: This is transmitted through contact with faeces or pharyngeal secretions of an infected person. It is a viral infection which paralyses muscles.

Hepatitis A: This disease is spread by the faecal-oral route by consuming contaminated food and water through poor personal hygiene and contact with food.

Scrupulous hygiene is required to prevent spread, especially after changing nappies and going to the toilet as the disease is often spread through human faeces.

Other precautions include: drinking bottled water, always washing fruit/veg thoroughly, always cooking food thoroughly and chilling foods as well.

Hepatitis B: This disease is spread by contaminated blood entering the body i.e sharing needles/syringes, unscreened blood transfusion, unsterilised surgical equipment or intimate body contact - unprotected intercourse.

Meningitis (A&C): This disease is spread by droplet infection from carriers and from infected persons. Symptoms include severe headaches, stiff neck, fever, vomiting, alter consciousness, photophobia etc.

Please take care of yourself, family and friends whilst travelling abroad.

HAVE A GOOD SAFE TRIP!

If you are going abroad and think you will require vaccinations click here to fill in the travel health form. After this all you have to do is to make an appointment with the practice nurse. She will plan your vaccinations prior to your appointment.

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Debbie McLeman September 2008