General Travel Information

Hepatitis can be hazard for hot-spot travellers

(NC)—Most of us daydream about flying off to an exotic destination to escape the stress of everyday life. In fact, in 2005 Canadians took more than three million trips to the Caribbean and Mexico.

Understanding some of the health risks you may encounter when travelling abroad is important to ensure that you have a safe and healthy holiday. The following information may be helpful in breaking some common myths:

Myth:
The only thing I need to worry about when travelling is getting an upset stomach and diarrhea.

Fact:

False. One of the other things is hepatitis. Hepatitis A and B are liver diseases that are common in most developing countries, including popular vacation spots such as Mexico and the Caribbean islands. Each year, through travel and at home, between 900 and 3,000 Canadians become infected with hepatitis A and more than 3,000 cases of hepatitis B are diagnosed. They are the two most common vaccine-preventable illnesses among Canadian travellers.

Myth:
As long as I avoid ice cubes and drinking the water, I won't get sick.

Fact:

False. Even though travellers may think they're playing it safe by avoiding the water, both hepatitis A and B can be contracted unknowingly through a number of different sources. For example, hepatitis B is spread through contact with blood and bodily fluids of infected individuals, or through perforation of the skin with unsterilized equipment. Even simple activities such as manicures or pedicures can increase a person's risk of infection if contaminated spa tools are used.

Myth:
Hepatitis A and B aren't that serious.

Fact:

Fact: False. Both hepatitis A and B are serious liver diseases that can have severe consequences. In fact, hepatitis B is 100 times more infectious than HIV, and kills more than one million people worldwide each year. It is one of the most common infectious diseases worldwide. Furthermore, about 25 per cent of reported adult cases of hepatitis A require hospitalization, and 15 per cent of people infected with the disease are sick for up to a year. Hepatitis A patients can miss up to six weeks of work due to the illness.

So before you hit the beach, take a moment to think about your health and wellness while you're away. Remember – a vacation from home doesn't always mean a vacation from illness. Take precautions and plan ahead.
For more information about hepatitis, visit the Canadian Liver Foundation website at www.liver.ca .