Travel Health Websites
There are some useful websites which are accessible free to the public and regularly updated, but these are not intended to provide travel health advice relating to all the possible additional needs of individuals who have pre-existing medical conditions such as infection with hepatitis C. However, much of the information is useful for all travellers.
NHS Scotland: http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
Department of Health (UK): http://www.doh.gov.uk
Foreign and Commonwealth Office: http://www.fco.gov.uk
World Health Organisation (WHO): http://www.who.int
Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (USA): http://www.cdc.gov
The International Society for Travel Medicine: http://www.istm.org (also contains a useful list of locations of overseas travel medicine clinics)
MedicAlert Bracelets
MedicAlert bracelets are internationally recognised as a means of alerting the medical professional as to your health status or any important allergies. In the event of an emergency they provide valuable information which can help to direct treatment appropriately and rapidly. Your doctor can direct you as to how to join MedicAlert, or you can visit the website for MedicAlert: www.medicalert.org.uk or alternatively phone membership services on 020 7833 3034 mon-fri 9am-5pm.
Blood Transfusions
Although this is not a matter specifically pertinent to those with hepatitis C, it is mentioned here to make the traveller aware that it is a fair assumption currently that blood for transfusion and other human blood derived medical treatment products cannot be guaranteed to have been screened for viral infections in many parts of the world. Apart from North America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Japan , it is advised to assume that blood products carry a significant risk of blood borne viral infection transmission. Consequently, a UK charity known as the Blood Care Foundation has been set up which can arrange for the supply of emergency blood products at 24 hours notice in many parts of the world via a network of strategically located supply centres. It is necessary to join the scheme in advance of travel by way of a limited membership cost as this is a charity. For further information, see their user friendly website.
Contact details:
The website has some useful links for further travel health information.
Traveller's diarrhoea
This is a very common problem for all travellers regardless of their health status, and has many possible causes. Travellers diarrhoea tends to be less well tolerated and cause greater problems for those who have chronic liver disease. Having chronic liver disease does not make a person more likely to get travellers diarrhoea. However, if diarrhoea is likely to be poorly tolerated some travel health professionals advocate carrying a supply of antibiotics (usually ciprofloxacin) for use in case, as the duration and severity of travellers diarrhoea can often be reduced. Below are precautions to reduce the risk of infection.
Precautions For Avoiding Unsafe Food And Drink
- Avoid cooked food that has been kept at room temperature for several hours.
- Eat only food that has been cooked thoroughly and is still hot.
- Avoid uncooked food, apart from fruit and vegetables that can be peeled or shelled, and avoid fruits with damaged skins.
- Avoid dishes containing raw or undercooked eggs.
- Avoid food bought from street vendors.
- Avoid ice cream from unreliable sources,including street vendors.
- Boil unpasteurised (raw) milk before consumption.
- Boil drinking water if its safety is doubtful; if boiling is not possible, a cerftified, well maintained filter and/or disinfectant agent can be used.
- Avoid ice unless it has been made from clean water.
- Brush teeth with bottled water when the water source is not clean.
- Bottled or packaged cold drinks are usually safe provided that they are sealed; hot beverages are usually safe.
- In countries where poisonous biotoxins may be present in fish and shellfish, obtain advice locally.
Further information
Some of the information supplied in this section was prepared by the Royal Free Travel Health Centre, part of the Academic Centre for Travel Medicine and Vaccines, which is based at the Royal Free Hospital, Pond Street, London, NW3 2QG. The opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am to 5 pm and appointments are recommended.
Contact details:
