The increase in international travel in recent years accompanied by an increased risk of importation of new and existing diseases in Canada.

It is up to Canadians to protect their health while traveling abroad and to consult their doctor stating they come from, if they fall ill upon returning home.

Canadians are more than 100 million trips abroad each year for both business and pleasure. The vast majority of these travelers back unharmed, but some become ill. These diseases or injuries are often caused by:

- Lack of protection against diseases preventable by vaccination;

- Consumption of food or water contaminated;

- The failure to take preventive medications such as antimalarial pills (against malaria) and

- Risk taking, such as tattooing, unprotected sex or alcohol abuse. Recent outbreaks of new diseases that prove fatal diseases against which the population is not immunized or inadequately immunized, can spread rapidly.

It belongs to the people and governments to guard against diseases that know no borders. It recommends that Canadians traveling abroad to contact their doctor or travel clinic six to eight weeks before a trip, whatever the destination in order to obtain a risk assessment. The doctor may determine, based on health status, route of travel and immunization history, vaccines or preventive treatments needed and recommend ways to avoid sickness.

The conditions in other countries may be significantly different from those in Canada. Anyone who travels abroad must know that such conditions may not only jeopardize his health and his ability to get medical help, but also his personal safety.

Travelers often complain of diarrhea or “turista”, usually caused by differences in water purity. As the Canadian municipal water is treated to remove most waterborne organisms, travelers staying in less developed countries may have diarrhea when they consume local water or food prepared with this water.

When traveling, you are also susceptible to childhood diseases, especially if you are not immunized against them or if your vaccinations are not current. Routine immunization includes:

- Diphtheria;

- Tetanus;

- Polio;
- Measles;

- Mumps, and
- Rubella.

Immunization against typhoid and hepatitis A can be recommended in countries where sanitary conditions are poor. Under the planned activities and the local health situation, it might be necessary to be vaccinated against:

- Meningitis;
- Japanese encephalitis;

- European encephalitis transmitted by ticks;
- Hepatitis B, and

- Rabies. Depending on the destination, you may also contract, inter alia, the following diseases:

- Malaria, caused by the bites of infected mosquitoes in tropical countries;
- Yellow fever, caused by the bites of infected mosquitoes in equatorial Africa and South America;

- Dengue fever, caused by the bites of infected mosquitoes in many tropical countries, and
- Schistosomiasis, caused by a parasite found in fresh water in the Caribbean, South America, Africa, Middle East and South-Eastern Asia.

In addition, some sexually transmitted diseases like HIV / AIDS, are more frequent in other countries than in Canada.

When traveling, you should also be vigilant. In less developed countries, economic conditions may contribute to increased crime rates, often against tourists.

(Source: Health Canada)