Travel in the age of Swine Flu & other health concerns

Although Swine Flu has dominated the news in recent months, the chances of a business traveler contracting it on a business trip to Asia would probably be no greater than the chances of getting it on a business trip elsewhere in the world or at home for that matter. However, travelers to Asia should take precautions against other more common types of illnesses to be found in the region.

The first and most obvious ailment that a traveler to any distant locale in general should be concerned about is water or food borne illnesses. Although travelers diarrhea is an annoyance, travelers to some parts of Asia should also be concerned about exposure to Hepatitis which is more common in some parts of Asia than in other parts of the world.

Nevertheless, both travelers diarrhea and Hepatitis are easily preventable. A simple way to avoid the risk of contracting a water borne illnesses is to only drink bottled water purchased from convenience stores or supermarkets and to always check that the plastic cap is sealed onto the bottle before drinking. In addition, travelers who are particular sensitive may want to consider washing their toothbrushes only in bottled water rather than water from the tap. As for dining out, especially in more exotic locations or neighborhoods where there might be fewer foreigners, eating only at restaurants or establishments frequented by other foreigners or by the local middle and professional classes is a sure way to lower your risk of having a bout of food poisoning or worst.

Besides food and water borne illnesses, mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue Fever and Malaria are increasingly a health concern in some major urban areas of Asia and for that matter, can even now be contracted in some Western countries where such diseases were supposedly eradicated years ago. A simple precaution (besides the wearing of smelly insect repellent) would be to wear long sleeves and pants during the evenings in areas where occasional outbreaks of such diseases have occurred in the past. And remember, some mosquito borne diseases are seasonal in nature or, like Dengue Fever, can only be contracted during certain hours of the day and hence, taking simple precautions and knowing what the risks are is the best way to lower your risk of exposure.

For further information, the Asian Wall Street Journal recently had a comprehensive article (Taking the Bite Out of Travel) about travel and health concerns in general that would be well worth reading. Furthermore, the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) contains the latest news and comprehensive information about health related travel concerns globally and is well worth consulting to see what, if any, vaccines might be needed before taking that next business trip.

Remember, as with any health related concern, knowing what the risks are and taking simple precautions and preventive measures will go a long way towards keeping your trip enjoyable and worry free.