July 24, 2009
By Jennifer Savage, USNH Yokosuka Public Affairs

Summer is here and after a long winter and rainy season, everyone deserves a little vacation. Many have probably already put a lot of planning into their vacation. They’ve definitely spent much time planning their finances to pay for this experience of a lifetime, and have probably planned the flight and hotel and some special sightseeing or adventure trips. But, during all of those plans for your travels, don’t forget to plan for your health. After all, your lasting memories of Indonesia shouldn’t be of a case of “Bali Belly” that kept you in the bathroom for 24 hours straight. And the recent cases of the H1N1 (swine) flu only further emphasize the importance of practicing good health and hygiene practices – at home and while traveling. More than 100 million people travel abroad every year. Those of us living in Japan have a unique opportunity to visit a host of countries less accessible to those living in the United States; however, many of those countries harbor diseases that can impact your vacation and your health. It is estimated that 20 to 30 percent of travelers get some form of infectious disease when traveling to developing countries. And spending time in rural areas of developing countries is potentially more troublesome than traveling in urban areas due to mosquitoes, poor access to bottled water and less developed accommodations, for example. Depending on where you are going, you have the potential to be at risk for everything from motion sickness or heat/ cold exposure to avian flu or tuberculosis. To protect yourself, and your well-deserved vacation, focus on what you can do to prevent getting sick while traveling. Doctors recommend that, at least six weeks out, you meet with your health care provider to discuss where you are going, the activities you are planning, your accommodations and other important topics relating to your trip. During this time you will also likely discuss any medicines you are taking, allergies, vaccine history and past travel. And, before getting on that plane, make sure your immunizations are up to date. Some routine, but important, updates you may need include measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, tetanus-diphtheria, influenza, varicella and pneumococcal. You may also want to get typhoid and hepatitis A immunizations, depending on where you are going. Doctors at U.S. Naval Hospital (USNH) Yokosuka have some good words of advice for those planning an upcoming trip. First, watch what you eat while in a new place. Eat only cooked food and avoid peels. Most people know not to drink the tap water, but also don’t eat the ice that comes in your drink. Avoid swimming in freshwater lakes or rivers and use bug spray with the active ingredient DEET. Also, things as basic as avoiding overcrowded transportation and wearing sunscreen can go along way toward protecting your health. Additionally, it is a good idea to pack a travel kit filled with: prescription medicines; antacids; cough and cold medicines; pain reliever; decongestants/antihistamines; antibiotic ointment; bandages; hydrocortisone cream; moleskin; lip balm; medicine for motion or altitude sickness; a small scissors and tweezers; a small mirror and a thermometer. USNH Yokosuka encourages anyone planning a trip to a developing country to contact their health care provider. By doing so, you can protect your health and ensure your vacation is an experience to remember, not one that you would like to forget. Some Web sites from which to obtain reliable travel health information are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at www.cdc.gov, the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at www.astmh.org, the World Health Organization at www.who.int and the U.S. Department of State at www.travel.state.gov. You may also make an appointment with your health care provider at USNH Yokosuka for information on staying healthy while travelling by calling 243-5352 or 046-816-5352.