Survey Reveals Travelling Australians at Risk

In the lead up to the Christmas holiday season, new survey results released today by the Travel Health Advisory Group indicate nearly one in 10 Australians have had an accident overseas whilst two in 10 Australians have had to seek medical treatment overseas.

Additional studies have also found that between 5% and 8% of travellers experienced an accident while travelling, and 15.6% of travellers reported having sought medical care owing to illness or accident during their stay overseas.

Dr Bernie Hudson, microbiologist and infectious disease physician at Royal North Shore Hospital said that its difficult to predict accidents or illness whilst travelling overseas, adding “If an accident does occur, medical treatment overseas can put travellers at risk from infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, especially when travelling to developing countries”.

He added that the medical procedures that can put travellers at risk include use of equipment containing blood-borne viruses such as needles and surgical tools, intravenous therapy, blood transfusions or dental procedures.

A review of the literature that included reports from the World Health Organization found that more than 50% of injections in developing countries are unsafe, this being because syringes and needles are often re-used on consecutive patients without sterilisation.  This lack of sterilisation can lead to infection by blood-borne viruses like hepatitis B.

Furthermore, he says that a large percentage of travellers are not seeking travel health advice before their trip, with one recent Australian survey (2006) finding that only 23% of travellers seek advice, and a recent international review finding nearly half of travellers did not seek advice.

Dr Bernie Hudson agrees that travellers remain complacent about seeking travel health advice prior to their trip, saying, “Accidents and illness can happen to anyone”, but that travellers should themselves the best chance of having a safe and healthy holiday, and visit their GP at least six weeks before they depart to discuss your travel health requirements.

For more information, handy travel checklists and country specific advice, travellers can visit www.welltogo.com.au

Medical risks include: –

Involuntary exposure to hepatitis
Injections into the skin for medical reasons
Equipment containing blood-borne viruses (e.g. needles, surgical tools)
Intravenous therapy
Blood transfusions
Dental procedures

Other risks directly within the control of the traveller and to be avoided include:-

Voluntary exposure to hepatitis
Unprotected sexual activity
Recreational drug use
Acupuncture
Skin perforating cosmetic procedures (e.g. tattooing and body piercing)
Attending a bleeding person
Sharing personal grooming items (e.g. razors and toothbrushes)

Report by The Mole