Health travel tips from Dr. Steve Berger, GIDEON’s medical advisor:

1. If you are planning a trip to any country, become aware of the local health situation, ongoing disease outbreaks, weather, emergency telephone numbers, availability of medicines you may be taking.
2. If you will be traveling to a tropical or developing country, consult a Travel Medicine Clinic for advice, vaccines and preventive medications.
3. Eat only well cooked foods, preferably in “clean” or “modern” facilities. Avoid eating fresh vegetables, exotic plants and animals and non-bottled water.
4. In areas where mosquito-borne diseases (malaria, dengue, etc) are endemic, use insect repellents and wear long-sleeved clothing appropriate to local weather.
5. Things to avoid: high-risk trauma which might result in “local” health care (injections, blood), unsafe sex, contact with animals.
6. If you feel ill following return home, consult an expert in Travel Medicine – bring a written itinerary which details dates of travel and return, exact places visited, foods eaten, health status of accompanying persons, vaccines and drugs received.

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