OSDH Encourages Planning Ahead to Stay Healthy During International Travel
Wednesday, March 21, 2018
For Release: March 21, 2018– Jamie Dukes, Office of Communications (405) 271-5601
As Oklahomans prepare for international travel for business, leisure, or volunteer activities, the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is encouraging travelers to do their research to make their trip a healthy one.
“It’s important to be proactive by learning about travel advisories for your destination, planning ahead to obtain any recommended vaccines or preventive medications, or deciding if travel should be rescheduled for persons at high-risk of illness,” State Epidemiologist Dr. Kristy Bradley said.
Examples of current travel advisories include an outbreak of listeriosis associated with processed meat products in South Africa; and an outbreak of yellow fever in multiple states of Brazil, where a vaccination to protect against yellow fever is recommended at least 10 days before travel.
Yellow fever is a mosquito-borne illness, and is just one of a number of illnesses that are a common threat while traveling internationally. Malaria is another prominent mosquito-transmitted disease that should be avoided. Malaria is present in large areas of Africa, Latin America, southeast Asia, and the South Pacific. Travelers should do their research and obtain anti-malarial drugs from their healthcare provider if their travel destination is an area at high risk for malaria. Mosquitoes are common in countries or islands with warm climates. Travelers are urged to take mosquito precautions such as wearing appropriate clothing, using insect repellent with DEET or picaridin, and using bed nets if sleeping in open rooms, lodges or tents.
The OSDH recommends the following tips for staying healthy during international travel:
Preparation Tips Before Travel
- Enough prescription medications and any other medications your physician may recommend to last through the duration of the trip.
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent, ideally containing DEET or picaridin.
- Alcohol-based hand gels containing 60 - 95 percent alcohol.
General Tips for Staying Healthy While Traveling
For more information about international travel safety, visit the CDC travelers’ health website at www.cdc.gov/travel or the OSDH travelers’ health web site at https://go.usa.gov/xQxW7.
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Last Modified on
Jun 03, 2022