Traveller Survival Guide: How to Stay Safe and Healthy on Holiday

The emergence of an infectious disease is complex and one of the most powerful force driving its emergence is human activities like travelling.

Tickets booked? Accommodation settled? Visa applied?

Planning for a trip can be busy and fun, but in the midst of the excitement, it is easy to forget about travel health issues. Read on to find out if you are indeed ready for your new adventures.

To get the most out of your holiday, make sure you are in the pink of health. Speak to your doctor to find out more about:

Necessary vaccinations
Preparing your medication if you have a chronic condition
Packing a travel first aid kit

In our excitement, we can overlook other small but important pre-travel preparations to safeguard our health while we are overseas. Always be safe, not sorry.

Take time to read up about the health conditions in your destination country
Purchase travel insurance
E-register with Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Singaporeans
Provide a copy of your itinerary to your family
Prepare a health card that contains your vital information (e.g. blood group, allergies to medicines or food, vaccination record, brief medical record, names and doses of medicines (if any), name and contact number of your doctor and emergency contact)

Always be aware of your health, the risks around you, and remember to adhere to the following safety practices.

Always practise personal protection

Vaccinations: Take all recommended vaccinations at least two weeks before your travel
Hand Hygiene: Wash your hands with soap, or use a hand sanitiser before meals and after using the toilet
Respiratory Hygiene: Put on mask, if where necessary
Bites: Take steps to protect yourself fromagainst animal and mosquito bites
Others: Avoid situations that might put you at risk of contracting blood-borne diseases and sexually-transmitted infections
Medical advice: Seek medical treatment when experiencing the following scenarios:

Feel unwell
Bitten by an animal
Deep cuts
Suspect of contracting an infectious disease

Drink only from safe/reputable sources

Only drink bottled or filtered/treated water
Avoid ice- or ice-cream if uncertain of cleanliness of source of water
Avoid drinking or brushing your teeth with tap water
Avoid unpasteurised milk

Boil it, cook it, peel it or forget it

Make sure your food is thoroughly cooked i.e. avoid undercooked meat and seafood, especially shellfish
Avoid salads and cut fruits if you are unsure of its freshness and cleanliness
Avoid street vendors, chef specials and whole-day buffets

Listed below are just some of the common diseases that you should look out for when you are overseas. If you discover that you are showing some of these symptoms, monitor your condition and consult a doctor where necessary.

Food and Water Borne Diseases

Here are some potential infections that might be contracted when food or drinks are consumed from unsafe/ unclean sources.

Disease

Symptoms

Where vaccination is needed

Travellers' Diarrhoea

Continuous diarrhoea, possibly with fever and dehydration

Vaccination prior to traveling – some diarrhoeal diseases (e.g. Typhoid) can be prevented through vaccination

Wash your hands with clean water and soap before eating

Use of hand sanitiser when soap and water are not available.

Only consume food and drinks from safe sources. Eat thoroughly cooked food. This is because raw food carries risk even if from safe sources.

Hepatitis A

Fever, nausea, fatigue, poor appetite, yellowing of eyes and skin, dark urine, pale stools

Animal and Mosquito Borne Diseases

Here are a number of diseases that are contracted when you are bitten by animals (e.g. dogs, bats) or mosquitoes that carry these viruses.

Disease	Symptoms	Prevention
Rabies	Weakness, discomfort, fever, headache. Can lead to confusion and abnormal behaviour	Avoid being in situations where you could be at risk of being bitten by animals. If bitten, seek medical advice immediately.
Dengue Fever	Fever, headache, rash, eye/joint/muscle pain	Apply insect repellent to all exposed skin Wear light-coloured, long-sleeved clothing and long pants, especially when outdoors at night Sleep under a mosquito net or in a room where the windows are fitted with fine wire netting For Malaria, speak to your doctor about anti-Malaria tablets. For Yellow Fever, check if you require yellow fever vaccination before travelling to the area.
Malaria	Fever, chills, shivering, headache, tiredness, vomiting, yellowing of eyes and skin, dark urine
Yellow Fever	Fever, headache, vomiting, backache, yellowing of eyes and skin, bleeding of gums, blood in urine

Air Borne/ Respiratory Droplets Diseases

Here are some diseases that might be contracted if you breathe in the germs expelled by an infected persion near you or when you are in close contact with the person.

Disease	Symptoms	Prevention
Measles	High fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, small white spots, diarrhoea. ear infection, bronchitis, pneumonia etc.	Vaccinations against measles and diphtheria are very important since these infections are very contagious and can lead to severe complications. If newborns have not been vaccinated as they are not eligible for the vaccinations yet, do take extra precaution during the trip Vaccinations against pneumococcal diseases, COVID-19, influenza, meningococcal are also highly recommended to prevent infections. Practise good personal hygiene by washing your hands with soap and water or using a hand sanitiser Wear a mask, if needed.
Diphtheria	Difficulty in breathing, airway obstruction, respiratory and heart failure, paralysis etc.
Pneumococcal Diseases	Infections of lungs, blood, brain, spinal chord, middle ear
COVID-19	Fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat, loss of taste or smell
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) / Influenza / Avian Influenza	High fever, cough, breathing difficulty
Meningococcal Disease	Fever, headache, stiff neck, nausea, vomiting, photophobia (eyes sensitive to light), confusion.
Chickenpox	Itchy rash, conjunctival and oral lesions, fever, tiredness, loss of appetite, headache etc.	Vaccination – the chickenpox vaccine is safe and effective in protecting those who have never had chickenpox
Tuberculosis	Persistent cough, weight loss, phlegm with blood	Recognise the symptoms to seek treatment early, and alert the doctor if the symptoms persist (e.g. undiagnosed cough for three weeks or more) Remember your recent travel history especially to high-risk countries.

Blood-Borne and Sexually-transmitted Diseases

These diseases are contracted through the exchange of blood and body fluids, through (but not limited to) blood transfusions, the use of non-sterilised needles or sharp objects (e.g. tattooing, piercing) and having unprotected sex.

Disease	Symptoms	Prevention
Hepatitis B	Jaundice (yellowing eyes and skin), fever, nausea	Hepatitis B vaccination
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)	Fever, aching muscles and joints, sore throat, swollen glands (lymph nodes) in the neck	Do not abuse drugs or share needles Avoid casual or unprotected sex Condoms, if used properly, can reduce the risk of getting HIV. It is advisable to bring along your own condoms Avoid situations which can make you unconscious around strangers (e.g. drinking alcohol, drinks being spiked, alone with strangers).
Chlamydia/ Gonorrhoea	Abnormal vaginal discharge or discharge from penis, burning sensation when urinating
Syphilis	Sores at location where syphilis enter the body (can be painless), rash, fever

Others

These diseases can be spread through contact with contaminated soil or water, especially through open wounds.

Disease	Symptoms	Prevention
Tetanus	Painful muscle contractions, particularly jaw and neck muscle	Vaccination is recommended
Melioidosis	Pain, swelling, fever, ulceration, cough, chest pain, headache etc.	Avoid contact with contaminated soil or water or use protective gears to minimise risk of exposure

Seek medical attention immediately for

Symptoms that cannot be controlled e.g. continuous diarrhoea
Symptoms in young children (e.g. vomiting, diarrhoea)

If you are at the clinic or hospital, you may wish to wash your hands regularly or use your own hand sanitiser with at least 60% alcohol. As per local practice, you may remind the healthcare staff to practise good hand hygiene before attending to you so as to prevent spread of infectious diseases.

For treatment to be effective, antibiotics are used to treat bacteria infections. Only consume antibiotics if prescribed by the doctor. For an effective treatment, always complete the course of antibiotics per doctor's advice.

Always maintain hydration

Use oral rehydration salts (sachets)
Make your own emergency rehydration fluids with 4 heaped teaspoons of sugar, 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1 litre of water

Activate your travel insurance if you are seriously ill and require emergency transport home for appropriate medical attention

If you have been ill during your holiday, it is good practice to return to the doctor for a thorough check-up if

Your symptoms persist
You develop symptoms within a week of returning home

Download the HealthHub app on Google Play or Apple Store to access more health and wellness advice at your fingertips.

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References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID), Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ), Air Travel; 2011 (updated 2011, July 1). Available at: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/yellowbook/2012/chapter-6-conveyance-and-transportation-issues/air-travel.htm
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Wash Your Hands (updated 2013, February 14). Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/features/handwashing/
Travelers' Health: Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel

This article was last reviewed on 15 Nov 2022