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SUMMER 2012
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art of the allure of dive travel is the
opportunity to enjoy unique environments
both above and below the water. Exotic
locations entice us with vivid beauty but
may also harbor unique health risks. DAN’s
medical department is often asked to provide
information on various travel-related ailments, and this
article provides an overview of some of the topics about
which we are asked most frequently.
For residents of many developed countries, the diseases
and plagues of history are distant memories, far removed
from our current consciousness. Advances in medicine and
public health have either eradicated or minimized the impact
of many diseases that used to claim countless lives. But the
stark reality is that such diseases are still very real in many
parts of the world, and some are spreading to areas that
previously enjoyed sanctuary.
Fortunately, most of the more serious diseases are
preventable. Do some research before your trip; travel
health begins at home. There are several sources of reliable,
up-to-date and readily available information for travelers,
including the websites of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO)
and, for DAN® Members, Worldcue® Planner. DAN defers
to these resources for answers to questions about disease
prevention and potential health risks faced by travelers.
Vaccinations
Preventing disease transmission and infection is one of the most
powerful health-preservation techniques available. In addition to
staying in good shape, getting sufficient sleep and maintaining
adequate nutrition and hydration, vaccines are critical for
protection against many diseases that have no specific treatment.
Make sure your vaccinations are current, and ask your doctor
if particular boosters or vaccinations are recommended for the
area you’ll be visiting. Among the most commonly recommended
vaccines are those for hepatitis A and B and the combination
booster for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP). Others
include polio and varicella (chickenpox).
If you can’t remember when or if you received these
immunizations, your doctor can test the antibody levels in
your blood to confirm sufficient immunity. As some of these
vaccinations may require a series of injections, it is a good
idea to talk to your doctor well before you travel.
tropical diseases
and the traVeler
You
By Marty McCafferty, EMT-P, DMT, and Nick Bird, M.D., MMM
Still
That?
Get
Can
From left: Vaccination stimulates the immune system to resist disease.
Exposure to rabid dogs is the cause of 99 percent of human deaths from
rabies worldwide. Bite avoidance, through the use of insect repellent and
other means, is an important element of mosquito-borne disease prevention.
I S T OC K P HO T O . COM