Travelling overseas: health info and precautions

If you are planning a trip overseas, you need to consider health matters such as:

• immunisation
• disease risks in the destination country
• food safety and general hygiene
• travelling with prescription medicines
• travel insurance.

Immunisation

Visit your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip and discuss any vaccinations you may need for the country you are travelling to.

Learn about common immunisations for overseas travellers.

Protection against mosquitoes

If you are travelling to tropical countries, it is important to avoid mosquito bites because there are no vaccinations for mosquito-borne diseases such as:

• malaria
• dengue fever
• chikungunya virus.

The best way to do this is by:

• wearing a good repellent (containing DEET or Picaridin), particularly during daylight hours when the dengue mosquito is most active
• staying in accommodation with screened windows and doors, as some mosquitoes prefer to bite indoors
• wearing long, loose clothing when possible.

If you've returned from a tropical country and you develop symptoms of these diseases, it is important you see a doctor immediately for treatment, to prevent further spread of the disease in Queensland.

Protection against rabies

Rabies is a disease caused by the rabies virus and other (usually bat borne) viruses. Rabies is usually fatal.

The rabies virus can be carried by domestic and wild animals in a number of countries. It can be spread to people through close contact with infected saliva from infected animals (usually from bites or scratches, but potentially from licks to the eyes or mouth or broken skin).

If you are intending to travel, live or work in any country where rabies is known to be a risk, speak to your medical practitioner about whether you should be vaccinated against rabies before you leave.

The best protection against being exposed to rabies is to avoid close contact with:

• wild or domestic terrestrial mammals in any country where there is a rabies risk (especially dogs, cats and monkeys)
• bats in any country.

If you are bitten or scratched by a bat anywhere in the world or by a land dwelling mammal overseas, you should:

• immediately wash the wound thoroughly with soap and water for at least 5 minutes—proper cleansing of the wound reduces the risk of infection
• apply an antiseptic with anti-virus action such as povidone-iodine, iodine tincture, aqueous iodine solution or alcohol (ethanol) after washing
• seek medical attention as soon as possible for a course of injections to prevent rabies
• obtain as much written detail as possible on any post-exposure management provided overseas and discuss with your usual health care provider as soon as practicable.

Protection against food and water-borne diseases

Visit the World Health Organization for information regarding food and water-borne disease.

If you become unwell during or on return from your travel, it is important you see a doctor immediately and advise the doctor of the areas you have visited for prompt diagnosis and treatment and to prevent any further spread of infectious diseases.

Further information

The Australian Government  provides extensive information for Australians travelling overseas, including information about:

• travelling with prescription medicines
• staying healthy overseas
• travel insurance.

You will also find travel advice for specific countries you are visiting.