The holiday season is in full swing and every day more and more countries are opening their borders to tourists. The coronavirus pandemic has made adjustments in travel. However, we should not forget that in addition to COVID-19, there are many other dangerous diseases that must be remembered when going on vacation.
Kyiv. Ukraine. Ukraine Gate – July 7, 2021 – Tourism and Travel
The head of the statistics and analysis department of the Center for Public Health Kateryna Matyushkina told what diseases can threaten the health and lives of travelers, in addition to the coronavirus, according to the press service of the Center for Public Health.
Food poisoning and acute intestinal infections
Matyushkina said that the main disease in the summer is acute intestinal infections.
According to her, in 5 months of 2021, 12.5 thousand cases of such infections and 30 group outbreaks have already been registered in Ukraine, as a result of which 263 people became ill, including 237 children. Of these, 14 outbreaks of established and unidentified etiology, 10 outbreaks of rotavirus enteritis, 5 outbreaks of salmonellosis, and one outbreak of hepatitis A virus.
Matyushkina noted that outbreaks predominated in children’s preschools (63%) and schools (13%), the rest of the outbreaks occurred in households, health facilities and were probably related to catering establishments. In particular, this year two outbreaks of infections in children’s health camps in Odesa and the Nikolaev areas were already registered.
“It should be remembered that children need to be taught the rules of personal hygiene before going on vacation,” said the expert.
According to her, another problem is botulism. For 5 months of 2021 in Ukraine 43 cases of botulism were registered, among patients 1 child. Six adults died. The probable foods that led to the disease were dried and salted freshwater and sea fish (40%), meat, fish, vegetables, canned mushrooms, and other meat products. 35 people, including 12 children, were affected by the mushroom poisoning. Three victims, including two children, died.
Rules of nutrition during travel
Matyushkina reminded that tourists should not forget about food safety. Especially when traveling inland or in the countryside.
“It is advisable to avoid street food, not to eat raw and poorly cooked food, take care of personal hygiene, wash your hands often, wash all vegetables and fruits, avoid exotic dishes, the quality of which you are not sure,” she advised.
The expert stressed that in any country it is important to follow the rules of personal hygiene, use only safe water. Wash hands, dishes, raw vegetables, and fruits with safe water. In addition, it is important to have health insurance and seek medical attention in case of ill health.
Tick bites
Matyushkina said that tick-borne borreliosis or Lyme disease is one of the most common tick-borne infections in Ukraine. In particular, in 2020, 2745 patients with borreliosis were registered, for 5 months of 2021 – 234 patients (against 446 for the same period last year). In addition, in 2020, 2 cases of tick-borne viral encephalitis were registered.
She said that when staying in an area where ticks can suck (and this is an area where there are grasses and bushes), it is necessary to wear light closed clothes, it is desirable to cover the body completely, tuck pants into socks, do not go beyond the trail in the grass on both sides. You can use a special repellent that scares away ticks. Also, if possible, every two hours should be examined clothes and body. Particular attention should be paid to the places of elastic socks and underwear, the popliteal cavity, the line of the scalp, behind the ears. After returning it is necessary to take a shower, wash clothes, or iron immediately. Check for ticks if you have taken them for a walk.
If the tick is still sucked, then after its removal it is necessary to follow the bite site and consult a doctor for advice on preventive treatment. If an erythema annulus (redness with enlightenment in the center) appears at the site of the bite, it may be a symptom of borreliosis or Lyme disease. It is necessary to pass laboratory testing and receive specific treatment, according to the doctor’s prescription, the expert added.
How to protect yourself from exotic diseases
Matyushkina said that the most common causes of imported diseases in Ukraine are malaria, leishmaniasis, fever (Chikungunya, dengue, West Nile), and cholera.
“What unites all these diseases is that they are transmitted through insect bites. The main prevention is the same – use repellents, screen windows indoors, protect the body, do not go out during the hours of greatest insect activity – in the morning and at dusk,” – said the expert.
According to her, the consumption of safe water and food will help against cholera and other intestinal infections. It is also worth remembering about the safety of water for household needs and hygienic procedures – washing dishes, washing, washing fruits and vegetables, and more.
“Use bottled, boiled, or settled water. We do not recommend swimming in open freshwater, especially in rural areas, which do not have a permit,” Matyushkina added.
How to avoid malaria
The expert said that up to 40-50 cases of malaria are registered in Ukraine every year. Up to 10% of patients die. At the same time, prevention of malaria involves two ways – prevention of mosquito bites and chemoprophylaxis with antimalarial drugs.
Matyushkina noted that malaria is common in Africa, South America, Asia, and Oceania. Before traveling and long trips to these regions, you should consult a family doctor, who will prescribe a course of chemoprophylaxis. Preventive treatment should be taken before departure, throughout the stay in the endemic country, and after the return. The frequency of administration depends on the drug. Pregnant women were advised to avoid traveling to endemic countries.
In addition to chemoprophylaxis, it is also necessary to protect against mosquito bites: wear closed clothes, treat clothing and exposed areas of the body with repellents, avoid being outdoors in the morning and twilight, when mosquitoes are most active. You should sleep in rooms with barred windows or have a protective canopy over the bed. Grids can also be treated with special repellents.
Matyushkina said that after returning to Ukraine at the first symptoms of the disease (chills, fever, SARS, or diarrhea), you should immediately tell your doctor when and in which country you were and whether you were taking chemoprophylaxis. Malaria is diagnosed by microscopy of blood products. Treatment is carried out with specific antimalarial drugs. Self-medication is strictly forbidden, because even with proper treatment, but late treatment, every tenth person in Ukraine dies.
Vaccination for travelers
The CGC stressed that any vaccinations should be done in advance because immunity is formed in a person sometime after vaccination.
When traveling to countries where Yellow Fever is common (South America and Africa), it is mandatory to obtain a vaccination and an international vaccination certificate, which is issued ten days after vaccination. Against hepatitis A it is recommended to receive 2 doses with an interval of 6 months. You must get at least one dose before traveling. Vaccination of children is allowed from 1 year of age.
When traveling to countries where the prevalence of hepatitis B is higher than 2% (mainly Asian and African countries), it is recommended to receive a series of 3 hepatitis B vaccinations, if not done before.
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Source: Ukrgate
