Travelling to new countries can be an exciting time, but you will need to take some precautions to say healthy once you have arrived. Before travelling, it’s always advisable to check whether there are any recommended vaccinations for your destination.
Before you travel:
- If you are pregnant, have a serious health condition, or are travelling to a location with harsh conditions, consult your doctor before you go, and refill any prescriptions that you will need while away.
- See your doctor for advice about travel vaccinations (and protecting yourself from malaria if necessary), ideally at least eight weeks before going to a new country.
- Make sure any existing vaccinations are up to date (for example, polio and tetanus). If they’re not, arrange booster vaccinations.
- Check public health and travel advice.
- Take water purification tablets with you, in order that you can prepare safe water locally if bottled water isn’t available.
- Consider taking certain over-the-counter medicines with you such as those for constipation or stomach upsets.
- If travelling to an environment with more extreme weather conditions, remember to take appropriate clothing and sunscreen where appropriate.
- If you are pregnant, have a serious health condition, or are travelling to a location with harsh conditions, consult your doctor before you go, and refill any prescriptions that you will need while away.
Stay healthy while away:
- Wash your hands (and dry them on a paper towel) or use a hand sanitiser after using the toilet and before eating food.
- Stay hydrated, once you are sure the water you are drinking is safe (see below).
- Avoid contact with local wildlife and stray animals such as dogs and cats.
Take care with what you eat and drink:
- Avoid drinking tap water (including ice cubes) in developing countries and instead purchase bottled water, or boil or purify water before using.
- Make sure food is piping hot and served in hygienic conditions.
- Ensure that fresh fruit can be peeled before eating.
- Ensure food is well-cooked and served steaming hot. Avoid raw or slightly cooked food, seafood, mayonnaise, ice cream, butter, etc.
- Eat breads, tortillas, crackers, biscuits, and other baked goods.
- Eat fruits, nut, and vegetables with thick skins, peels, or shells that you remove yourself. Wash any food in bottled, boiled or purified water.
- Brush your teeth with bottled or boiled water, or water you have purified yourself.
- Use bottled water when taking medicines, as diarrhoea could affect the impact of tablets.