At the destination, caution

There are many factors that cannot be controlled in terms of safety when traveling. Preventive measures, basic or general, are very important, but so are the specific precautions for each area and/or type of trip. Guillermo Mena Pinilla, a specialist in preventive medicine and public health, and head of the travel consultation at Hospital HLA Internacional in Barcelona, ​​always recommends three aspects when traveling internationally: “Consult with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the different active risks in the destination country, consult with an expert in travel medicine and take out travel insurance”, he points out. It also ensures that “each destination has its risks”, but the main thing is to “avoid areas of armed conflict and/or with active outbreaks of transmissible diseases.” These previous prevention measures are key, like a complete pharmacological arsenal, but during the trip tourists must also exercise their habits to the extreme.  

Pay close attention

Thus, during the trip you have to pay close attention to food and drinks that are the main source of infections or intestinal diseases. Here, prudence is a great ally, and health experts recommend not eating fruit that has already been cut, avoiding vegetables if they are not well cooked and not consuming untreated milk or derivatives; that is, without boiling, sterilizing or pasteurizing. Another of the foods to avoid is the egg, and also the sauces. Thus, certain pathologies transmitted by food consumption such as traveler’s diarrhea, typhoid fever or hepatitis A can be prevented. Something similar happens with drinks. Travel medicine experts remember that it is convenient to drink bottled water and clean, beforehand, the area that will touch the mouth. If hot drinks, such as tea or coffee, have boiled enough, they are a good option to hydrate. Of course, without ice, because it cannot be guaranteed that the cubes come from drinkable water. And the same happens with tap water, which is not recommended even when brushing your teeth. 

The same precaution with water must be taken outside; that is, in rivers, lakes or canals that may be infected. For this reason, it is recommended to avoid this type of water and opt for pools with chlorinated water. In the sea, there is usually not as much risk of transmissible diseases, but there is, for example, jellyfish stings or bites. Depending on the destination area, a possible preventive solution is to bathe with specialized footwear. Finally, another aspect to take into account during the trip is related to direct contact with animals. Even if they are domestic, like dogs or cats, it is always better to avoid touching them. And it is that rabies, the consequence of an animal bite, is one of the most lethal infections. On the other hand, depending on the area, there may be wild animals that react aggressively when intimidated. For this reason, it is crucial to avoid behaviors or movements that could make animals believe that tourists are a threat. Finally, travelers to tropical, subtropical, and desert areas should be aware that poisonous snakes, spiders, and scorpions are common. Here, local advice will be crucial.

Precautions during the trip 

• Drink only bottled water.

• Eat cooked food.

• Avoid sauces and eggs.

• Avoid ice cubes.

• Do not brush your teeth with tap water. 

• Do not take baths in rivers, lakes or water channels.

• Avoid contact with animals.