We often think we’re safe when travelling surrounded by others or sharing facilities, but there’s a world of hidden dangers (and microbes), says Dr Jane Wilson-Howarth.
CROWD RISKS
Joining in at a street festival brings you into close contact with lots of people. Fortunately, apart from the obvious risks of getting lost or squashed, the chances of catching an infectious disease are minute. Diseases acquired by living in confined, poor accommodation, including tuberculosis and leprosy, are not spread through fleeting contact of the sort travellers experience. There may be risk of meningococcal disease or influenza, for which there are excellent vaccines.
Busy markets and other dizzying presses of humanity can have you imagining there is a huge risk of infection. I have certainly been guilty of over-thinking risks during disease outbreaks. This is one excellent reason to be as fully immunised as possible – check www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk for all outbreak information.
It is also crucial to ensure you have good travel insurance that includes a travel assistance helpline number. Buying a local SIM card allows easier access to a local ambulance service, if one exists, and it is also a good idea to travel with a thermometer. If you fear you have acquired a nasty tropical disease, you can then check your temperature; if it is below 38°C, you can be confident that this is unlikely to be anything serious.
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Bu hikaye Wanderlust Travel Magazine dergisinin July/August 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye Wanderlust Travel Magazine dergisinin July/August 2018 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Vermont, USA
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See a side to the USA and Canada beyond the big cities and discover incredible stories and special wildlife with our pick of the trips
The call of the Rockies
From historic ski lodges to rustic backcountry cabins and a mock-Scottish castle, we pick the stays in Canada's Rocky Mountains that make the most of their setting
A new dawn for the Garifuna community
When the Garifuna people settled in Belize, they had to carry their traditions and culture with them; now a new trail is inviting visitors to explore this heritage through local communities
On the edge of history
In south-west Colorado lies the largest archaeological preserve in the USA, a series of vast cliff dwellings whose residents 'vanished' overnight. But was the answer to their disappearance in plain sight?
Tigers burning bright
As India celebrates 50 years of its Project Tiger conservation scheme, we visit the reserves of Madhya Pradesh to see how its success has impacted a tiger population that once looked in danger of disappearing
SEASON'S GREETINGS
From fiery fall foliage to art fairs and harvest festivals, opens up a wealth of across the USA and Canada autumn experiences
Waking a sleeping GIANT
A slow drive along the North Wales Way, from the English border to Anglesey, reveals not only a land of incredible local food and castles, but a region that is slowly reimagining itself
The rebirth of old JEDDAH
As efforts to restore Al-Balad, Jeddah's historical district, take hold, we get an exclusive peek at how art and culture are taking centre stage
Star-studded escapes
Wilderness, history and wildlife combine at some of Britain's most iconic stargazing sites, as more and more travellers are looking to the heavens