Travel Health Risk Overview

International travelers face increased health risks abroad, especially in developing countries.

At a meeting of the International Society of Travel Medicine, Dr. Robert Steffen of the University of Zurich presented estimates of the number of infections that would occur in unprotected travelers. Overall, the greatest risk is for travelers' diarrhea which occurs in 40-50% of tourists. Most deaths abroad are due to traffic and swimming accidents, often associated with alcohol intoxication.

For every one million people traveling to developing countries for a one-month stay, about 24,000 would develop malaria if visiting West Africa, while 500 would if visiting South America. About 3,000 travelers would develop hepatitis A and 3,000 would contract a sexually transmitted disease such as gonorrhea or AIDS. Around 300 visitors to Africa or India and about 30 visiting other countries would get typhoid fever. Cholera would only occur in 3 travelers and only 1 would get polio. Meningitis is another infection that occurs mainly in Africa but the actual risk to travelers is small. Yellow fever is another disease present in the Amazon basin and Sub-Saharan Africa but rarely occurrs in travelers. Proof of yellow fever vaccination, however, may be required for entrance into certain foreign countries.

Preventive measures are available to protect yourself from health risks.

• Standard food and water precautions can reduce the risk of diarrhea and antibiotics can rapidly cure it if it occurs.

• Malaria can be prevented by taking malaria medications and using insect repellents to avoid mosquito bites during your trip.

• Using seat belts and avoiding alcohol intoxication can reduce your chance of death from accidents.

• Using condoms or avoiding sexual contact can reduce your chance of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases.

• The chance of getting hepatitis A can be reduced by getting vaccinated.

• An oral typhoid vaccine or a single-dose injectible vaccine with fewer side effects than the older injection series are available for protection against this illness.

• Vaccinations against polio, meningitis, and yellow fever are also available.

Your actual risk of acquiring any of these diseases depends upon your specific itinerary and the type of trip you are planning. For personalized recommendations you should consult with your own physician, health department, or a travel medicine clinic at least four to six weeks prior to departure.

Gary P. Barnas, MD
Associate Professor
General Internal Medicine

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.