Survey Reveals Travelling Australians at Risk
In the lead up to the Christmas holiday season, new survey results released today by the Travel Health Advisory Group indicate nearly one in 10 Australians have had an accident overseas whilst two in 10 Australians have had to seek medical treatment overseas.
Additional studies have also found that between 5% and 8% of travellers experienced an accident while travelling, and 15.6% of travellers reported having sought medical care owing to illness or accident during their stay overseas.
Dr Bernie Hudson, microbiologist and infectious disease physician at Royal North Shore Hospital said that its difficult to predict accidents or illness whilst travelling overseas, adding “If an accident does occur, medical treatment overseas can put travellers at risk from infectious diseases such as hepatitis B, especially when travelling to developing countries”.
He added that the medical procedures that can put travellers at risk include use of equipment containing blood-borne viruses such as needles and surgical tools, intravenous therapy, blood transfusions or dental procedures.
A review of the literature that included reports from the World Health Organization found that more than 50% of injections in developing countries are unsafe, this being because syringes and needles are often re-used on consecutive patients without sterilisation. This lack of sterilisation can lead to infection by blood-borne viruses like hepatitis B.
Furthermore, he says that a large percentage of travellers are not seeking travel health advice before their trip, with one recent Australian survey (2006) finding that only 23% of travellers seek advice, and a recent international review finding nearly half of travellers did not seek advice.
Dr Bernie Hudson agrees that travellers remain complacent about seeking travel health advice prior to their trip, saying, “Accidents and illness can happen to anyone”, but that travellers should themselves the best chance of having a safe and healthy holiday, and visit their GP at least six weeks before they depart to discuss your travel health requirements.
For more information, handy travel checklists and country specific advice, travellers can visit www.welltogo.com.au
Medical risks include: –
Involuntary exposure to hepatitis
Injections into the skin for medical reasons
Equipment containing blood-borne viruses (e.g. needles, surgical tools)
Intravenous therapy
Blood transfusions
Dental procedures
Other risks directly within the control of the traveller and to be avoided include:-
Voluntary exposure to hepatitis
Unprotected sexual activity
Recreational drug use
Acupuncture
Skin perforating cosmetic procedures (e.g. tattooing and body piercing)
Attending a bleeding person
Sharing personal grooming items (e.g. razors and toothbrushes)
Report by The Mole
John Alwyn-Jones
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025