When determining the health risks of international travel, travellers and health professionals should consider the following key factors:
mode of transport
destination(s)
duration and season of travel
purpose of travel
standards of accommodation, food hygiene and sanitation
behaviour of the traveller
underlying health of the traveller
Travellers may encounter the following health risks depending on their destination:
animal and insect bites, including mosquitoes, ticks, fleas, and some flies, which can spread diseases such as malaria
exposure to blood or other bodily fluids
environmental changes, such as altitude, humidity, temperature
foodborne and waterborne diseases
inadequate medical services
injuries, including from road traffic accidents or recreational activities
psychological health, including stress and culture shock
Travellers may also be exposed to a number of infectious diseases, and many of these can be prevented by vaccination. However, there are some infectious diseases, including some of the most dangerous, for which no vaccines exist.
Destinations where accommodation, hygiene and sanitation, medical care and water quality are of a high standard pose relatively few serious risks to the health of travellers. Where these services are not provided, travellers should take stringent precautions to avoid illness. Travel warnings from governmental sources should be taken seriously.
Travel and health
International travel can pose various risks to health, depending on the characteristics of both the traveller and the travel. 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.
International travel is on the rise, as millions of people travel for professional, social, recreational and humanitarian purposes each year. All travellers must prepare for the variety of health risks they can be exposed to in unfamiliar environments before, during and after they travel.
People planning to travel should seek advice on the potential hazards in their chosen destinations and understand how best to protect their health and minimize the risk of acquiring disease. Forward planning, appropriate preventive measures and careful precautions can protect the health of travellers, and minimize the risks of accident and of acquiring disease.
Although the medical profession and the travel industry can provide extensive help and sound advice, it remains the traveller’s responsibility to seek information, to understand the risks involved and to take the necessary precautions to protect their health while travelling.
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