For many people, 2024 is the first year they are making it abroad since before the pandemic. Experts are predicting that travel will return to its usual levels this season for the first time in four years.
And while no countries have any coronavirus travel restrictions in place, there are other health warnings to be aware of for certain countries across the world, including popular tourist destinations. It is also recommended that you get specific vaccinations if you are travelling to some countries.
From medical tourism to hotspots for dysentery and sickness bugs, many of us have heard anecdotal stories of what to avoid and why. Below you can find the latest UK Government advice related to health in some of the most popular holiday destinations among Brits.
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Turkey
Many people will have heard of anecdotal stories of their friends and family travelling to places like Turkey and experiencing sickness and diarrhoea while out there. According to the UK Government, there were 241 cases of confirmed salmonella detected in 2023 related to people who had travelled to Turkey.
The advice is to ensure that any food you eat is recently prepared, thoroughly cooked and that it is served piping hot. You should also avoid fruit that has been cut or peeled for you, and opt for things like oranges and bananas that you can peel yourself. Good hand hygiene is also recommended.
Medical tourism in Turkey is a widely known issue with tonnes of Brits travelling abroad each year for treatments and procedures. According to the UK Government, six Brits have died after having medical procedures in Turkey in 2023 alone, many others have experienced complications.
The advice is to do plenty of research into the facilities you are using and consider that the standard of facilities can vary widely globally as well as within the country itself. The Turkish Ministry of Health provides a list of its approved medical providers on the HealthTurkiye website.
Mexico
If you are planning a trip further afield this year, there are some things you need to be aware of when it comes to travelling to Mexico and your health. The UK Government advises that the health risks in Mexico relate to zika virus and chikungunya virus.
For zika virus, it is important to use protection against mosquito bites. The virus poses particular risks to that of pregnant women as well as those who hope to conceive. Chikungunya virus is caused by tick bites, so it is important to use precautions to avoid them.
Last summer saw Brits report suffering with cases of a food and water bug called Cyclospora that has affected travellers returning from Mexico. The advice is to maintain good hand hygiene and try and consume only recently-prepared food. You should also only drink bottled water and also ensure you use it to brush your teeth.
Fruit you can peel yourself is better than that has been cut for you and avoid berries as you cannot be sure they have not been washed in water that is safe. You should also avoid drinks with ice. For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here
Indonesia (Bali)
For those with an exotic holiday to Bali planned, you should be aware that there are certain vaccines recommended for most travellers. These include hepatits A, tetanus, and typhoid.
There is also a concern over air pollution at Indonesia’s major cities which can reach levels considered “unhealthy for sensitive groups”. The dry season, from May to November, also sees widespread forest fires which contributes to poor air quality in some islands – including Riau Islands, central Sumatra and Kalimantan.
Saudi Arabia
A rare but potentially devastating infection has been identified in travellers from Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. As of May 17, 12 meningococcal disease cases have been reported, with three Brits included in those numbers. The majority of cases belong to meningococcus serogroup W where there is no history of vaccination.
It is advised that if you are travelling to the Hajj and Umrah zones and eligible for the meningococcal vaccine, you should have it at least 10 days before travel. The vaccine is routinely offered to school children.
South America
There has been a drastic increase in the number of Dengue cases across South America this year. Colombia has seen an increase of 373%, Peru has seen an increase of 357, Argentina has seen a 600% increase and Brazil has seen an increase of 371%
There are no vaccines against dengue fever available in the UK so if you are travelling to this area it is important to use preventative measures against mosquito bites.
Europe
As of April 9, 2024, there were 31 cases of drug-resistant shigella infections reported in Belgium since the start of this year. There were also a further two cases reported in Germany and a further two in Ireland and one in the Netherlands. All the cases had links to a music festival in Belgium.
Shigella is a sexually transmitted infection so it is important to practice safe sex wherever you visit this summer.