Travel Tips: The Essentials
Before Travel
Travel Clinic Appointments:
Allow plenty of time for immunisations and antimalarials. Appointments should be made at least 6 weeks prior to travelling as some courses of vaccines may take over a month to complete and therefore timetabling may be difficult.
Appointments can be made by downloading a Travel Appointment form and emailing it to enquiries@uohs.ox.ac.uk ; or by telephoning 01865 (2)82676
Specific work may encounter hazards which need further advice, for example high altitude or rural remote work and should be discussed in the Travel Clinic.
Recommendations do change for countries, as do individual travelers’ needs (for e.g. pregnancy, recent illness); therefore advice must be sought for each trip.
If a traveler has attended the Travel Clinic previously it is only necessary to complete a new Travel Appointment form can then be assessed by the Travel Physician and updates can be arranged as required.
Equipment/Resources:
Obtain adequate supplies of regular medications, insect bite avoidance measures, first aid kits
Read University Policy Statement S3/07 on Overseas Travel
Check with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, telephone number 02070081500 prior to travel for up to date safety and security advice. The University of Oxford cannot endorse any travel to any country designated as unsafe by the Foreign Office.
Insurance:
Ensure you have an appropriate level of insurance, including adequate medical cover and emergency repatriation. The University provides insurance cover Medical treatment can be extremely costly and treatment may not be available in some places without proof of ability to pay. Also, if appropriate care isn’t available locally you may need to be evacuated or repatriated. Your insurance policy needs to cover this very high-cost service. You will be given an emergency telephone number with your policy number. Travelers to European Countries require an up to date EHIC card .
It is strongly recommended that you visit the following websites for extremely useful and user-friendly evidence based information about travel and risks.
- Nathnac this contains travel health information sheets regarding specific infectious and non-infectious health risks. Also regular health alerts for countries.
- Foreign Office
- NHS choices: information about accessing healthcare abroad
- Centres for Disease Control
During Travel
Various simple precautions can be taken whilst travelling to help avoid many health problems.
During long flights get up, walk, stretch and flex the calves regularly. For further information on Deep Vein Thrombosis prevention view the following fact sheet.
Emphasis must be placed on personal safety during travel:
Accidents and crime:
Road and vehicle safety standards vary greatly. Avoid the likelihood of traffic accidents as a pedestrian and motorist through selecting drivers and cars carefully, if possible avoid driving at night and /or travel by moped or motorcycle, check for seatbelts and be aware of risks.
Do not carry large amounts of money and valuables.
Blood borne diseases/sexual health:
Reduce the risk of blood borne diseases by taking sterile kits and not participating in unprotected intercourse. HIV is common in some countries (up to 30% of some populations). A sterile kit is available from Occupational Health to offer to health care professionals if required.
Insect and animal bites:
A variety of tropical diseases can be carried by insects, especially mosquitoes (malaria, dengue fever, yellow fever, Japanese Encephalitis etc), and ticks (tick borne encephalitis). Avoid insect bites by implementing measures such as covering exposed skin with loose, long clothing; using Permethrin impregnated nets, knockdown sprays in rooms and insect repellents containing DEET; antimalarial tablets etc. For further information visit NATNAC :
Remember that domestic or wild animal bites need medical attention even if you are fully vaccinated. Any bite should be thoroughly cleansed and medical advice sought as soon as possible. If Rabies is a risk, post exposure (bite) vaccination is required as soon as possible. Do not stroke dogs or cats, and avoid contact with bats, monkeys etc.
Check which types of risks are specific to your particular trip. For example avoid swimming in freshwater lakes if in a schistomsomiasis area.
Food and water hygiene:
Food and water can expose travelers to a range of bacteria, viruses, parasites and other causes of illness. Strict food and water hygiene methods should be adhered to at all times including washing hands; and boiling or sterilising water (preferably with an iodine-based preparation); and/or drinking only bottled water, avoiding ice in drinks.
Food tips: COOK IT, PEEL IT, BOIL IT OR FORGET IT!
Diarrhoea is usually self-limiting and Dioralyte or flat Coca Cola will keep a person hydrated adequately, but bloody diarrhoea or prolonged vomiting (more than 3 days) requires medical attention.
Skin protection:
Avoid the midday sun, use a sunscreen, and cover skin where possible with appropriate clothing. Increasing fluid intake will help.
For full information and methods of reducing various and specific risks please view the individual fact sheets to be found at NATHNAC.
Post Travel
Some diseases acquired overseas become apparent only after you return to the United Kingdom. It is particularly important to see your local doctor to have investigations into any feverish or diarrhoeal illnesses that develop for up to three months after a trip. The need for referral to an Infectious Diseases specialist will then be established.
If it is not possible to see your local doctor for example, out of normal working hours, and you are unwell post travelling, it is recommended that you attend the Accident and Emergency Department at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DU. Directions to the hospital
PLEASE INFORM THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE IF YOU HAVE BEEN ILL AS A RESULT OF WORK-RELATED FOREIGN TRAVEL BY TELEPHONING 01865 (2)82676 OR EMAIL enquiries@uohs.ox.ac.uk