The Sudbury & District Health Unit can offer you advice and immunizations based on your travel plans outside of Canada.
It is important to have a plan when travelling outside of Canada. Know where you are going and how long you will stay so that you are aware of the proper precautions to take. Standards of living, including accessibility to proper health care and treatment varies greatly outside of Canada. Take all preventative measures and precautions seriously when travelling abroad.
Counselling and immunizations
We offer individualized travel health recommendations and appropriate immunizations (at a cost) based on your travel itinerary. We recommend a consultation two months before travelling to ensure complete immunization. Request a travel counselling or immunization appointment today.
Food and water precautions
Related illnesses:
hepatitis A
travellers’ diarrhea
typhoid
Best practices:
Food
Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food.
Never eat raw shellfish.
Avoid unpasteurized milk products.
Cook or bake fruit and vegetables that cannot be peeled or washed.
Peel fruit yourself before eating.
Avoid food served at room temperature
Eat hot food while it is hot.
Ensure food is well cooked.
A good rule to follow: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
Water
Drink boiled water, commercially bottled water, or carbonated beverages.
Make sure the seals on the bottles are not broken.
Use ice cubes made from disinfected water.
Brush teeth with bottled water.
Wash food with bottled water.
Unclean water can make you sick if you swallow (or inhale it) while bathing, showering or swimming. Try not to get any water in your nose or mouth.
Insect precautions
Insect bite prevention will help protect you from many possible insect-related illnesses such as:
West Nile virus
dengue fever
yellow fever
Japanese encephalitis
Lyme disease
malaria
Sun safety
When travelling it’s important to remember to pack the right sunscreen. Sunscreens with the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA) label are always a good choice. Being sun safe is simple and will help you make the most of your trip; heat-related illnesses happen quickly and are preventable. If you’re thinking of getting a base tan through artificial tanning before you leave, think again. This will not protect your skin from burning. Sunless tanning products (creams, spays, powder, etc.) with adequate UV protection are a safer alternative for getting a tanned look.
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol misuse can ruin your vacation. Injuries, illness, violence, legal issues and unplanned intercourse can significantly change your plans. Follow the low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines and avoid binge drinking while on vacation or travelling. Remember in many countries the laws surrounding alcohol and drug use may be different than those in Canada. Learn local restrictions regarding alcohol and drug use and respect the law.
Safe sex
Bring condoms with you when travelling and use them every time. Don’t rely on being able to purchase condoms; condoms vary around the world, as does the ability to purchase them. Women should bring enough birth control to ensure that they are protected for the duration of the trip. Safe sex involves more than using condoms and birth control. Make smart decisions about your sexual encounters.
Hand hygiene
Proper handwashing is the best defence against becoming ill or spreading illness. If soap and water are not available to wash your hands, use an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. If your hands are visibly soiled, use moist towelettes to remove the dirt, then use hand sanitizer.
Source:
https://www.sdhu.com/health-topics-programs/travel-health
