No one wants to be sick while on vacation. But from crowded airports to new foods, traveling comes with plenty of opportunities to pick up germs and infections. You may even be exposed to new allergens.
The good news? There are things you can do to make sure you return home as healthy as when you left. Follow this advice from Mayo Clinic experts.
Avoid germs on public transportation. "You're going to be exposed to lots of people in confined settings in airports and trains, buses and airplanes. So the risk of being exposed to someone with an infectious disease is higher," says Nipunie S. Rajapakse, M.D., M.P.H, an infectious disease expert at Mayo Clinic.
To help prevent infection, take these precautions:
- Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Keep hand sanitizer handy for when a sink isn't nearby.
- Wear a mask.
- Avoid touching your face. If you must touch your face, wash your hands before and after.
- Wipe down hard surfaces around your seat on the airplane with an antiseptic wipe.
Don't get bit. Bugs, especially mosquitoes, can spread diseases like malaria, yellow fever, Zika and dengue. People who are pregnant and planning to travel to an area where the Zika virus is common should talk to their healthcare team about precautions and whether they should consider delaying travel.
"It's really important to know what mosquitoes can transmit in the area that you're going to," Dr. Rajapakse says.
To help prevent mosquito bites:
- Wear long sleeves and pants when outdoors.
- Use an insect repellent registered by the Environmental Protection Agency or a natural insect repellent shown to be safe and effective. That includes repellents with one of these active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol.
- Apply sunscreen first and let it dry before applying insect repellent.
- Avoid being outside at times when mosquitoes are most active. This is usually early in the morning or in the evening.
- Use a bed net at night, especially in areas where malaria is transmitted.
Admire animals from afar. Animals, like playful monkeys, can be fun to watch. But keep a healthy distance. Animals can carry disease, so avoid petting stray dogs or feeding wild animals.
Check for ticks. Especially after a safari or hike through a thick forest, do a tick search. Ticks can carry and spread Lyme disease as well as other types of infection. After spending time where ticks might be, check your gear and wash your clothes. The high heat of a dryer can kill any ticks that survive.
Take a shower as soon as you can, and then look in a full-length mirror for ticks. Pay close attention to hair, the belly button and behind the knees, where ticks can hide. Check kids and pets too.
If you do find that a tick has attached itself to you, use tweezers to grab its body as close to your skin as possible. Pull it up and out without twisting. Then wash your hands and the bite area with soap and water or an alcohol wipe.
Choose safer foods. Part of the fun of traveling is trying the local cuisine. But foods that are not properly handled or cooked can lead to food poisoning. Safer choices tend to include packaged foods and food that is cooked and served while still hot.
Riskier choices include:
- Raw foods. If you can, peel or prepare fruits and vegetables yourself. That way you know they've been properly washed. Eat them promptly.
- Street foods. Peek into the preparation area. Before ordering, confirm that the cooks are using food thermometers and serving food hot off the stove or grill.
- Wild game. Animals not commonly eaten in the United States, like rodents and bats, can spread disease.
Have bottled beverages. Harmful bacteria, viruses and parasites can lurk in water and cause diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pain. If you're visiting an area where the tap water may not be safe, drink bottled water and use it for brushing your teeth. Skip ice, fountain drinks and freshly squeezed juice, which are likely made using local water.
Check your vaccines. Before you travel, make sure your vaccinations are up to date.
"We do see travel-related cases of things like measles, so it's a great time to make sure that everyone in the family has all of their routine vaccinations up to date before you travel," says Dr. Rajapakse. "Depending on your travel itinerary, additional destination-specific vaccines also may be recommended to keep you and your family safe."
Some destinations might require proof of vaccination against diseases like yellow fever. Ask a travel health specialist about destination-specific vaccines and recommendations, like malaria prevention medicines. Schedule an appointment at least 4 to 8 weeks before your trip.
Pack carefully. When traveling, pack your usual medicine and supplies in your carry-on bag. Then add a few extra days' worth in case your return gets delayed. Don't forget items you might need only occasionally, like EpiPens and inhalers.
Consider packing nonprescription medicines, like:
- Allergy medicines.
- Diarrhea medicine.
- Motion sickness medicine.
- Pain relievers.
- Sleep aids.
"It can be very challenging in a different country, especially if you don't understand the language, to try and track down the proper medications once you're sick," Dr. Rajapakse says.