If you, or a member of your family, are planning to travel abroad this summer, remember, there are still concerns about some virulent infections. Threats of infections, such as yellow fever, malaria, and cholera, are quite real when traveling to tropical countries and the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) recommends that everyone contemplating international travel see their physician prior to booking. It is estimated about twenty percent of college freshmen have no immunization against mumps. Also, there is reason to fear measles in the young adult even if he or she received immunization as a child. In fact, individuals born after 1956 who didn't undergo immunization are at greatest risk for contracting measles. Those born after 1970 are at greatest risk for contracting mumps.
Most clinicians fear the current trend against immunization. Parents are actually avoiding getting their children immunized, basing their actions on fears of side effects. Schools today demand immunization records be current causing the parent to remove the child from the system and begin self schooling, thus causing a dearth of protection for the child.
What does all this have to do with traveling abroad? First, it points out the need of the parent to obtain proper immunizations for their children. If they are traveling with children, parents should be aware of what immunizations are missing.
Other nations adhere to different standards of sanitation and laws concerning the proper storage and preparation of foods. In many nations, the water purification systems are not as sophisticated, opening an avenue for disease- causing microbes to invade your system. Medical treatment is much less available, and, in many cases, inadequate to cope with infections.
The tropical areas of the continents of Africa, South and Central America, the sub-continent of India, and the islands of the Pacific are areas where travelers are most likely to encounter malaria and yellow fever. In these areas, the infections are considered to be endemic. Live, attenuated virus vaccines, however, are highly effective as preventatives and should be administered before travel to these locations.
Cholera is not generally considered a threat to travelers, but the infection has been identified in all areas where the water supply is or might be contaminated. The vaccine available, however, unlike others, is not very effective. All travelers whose destination might take them to areas of possible contamination should be made aware that the virus might be present in the food and water.
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