Wellbeing mattersTravel health: before you go
Travellers going abroad may need immunisations against infectious diseases. Advice on immunisations and other forms of medication should be accessed as early as possible and at least eight weeks before travelling as some vaccinations require time to take effect. It is also necessary to take other precautions to protect health as not all immunisations offer 100% protection.
Further advice is available from NHS Geater Glasgow and Clyde or Travel Clinics – a list of some in the Glasgow area is provided below:
Malaria is a widespread disease in tropical and subtropical countries and is a serious and sometimes fatal disease. It is spread by the bites of infected mosquitos. All travellers visiting countries where malaria is endemic are at risk. No regime of anti-malarial medication and other precautionary measures are 100% effective in preventing malaria but the combination will give significant protection against malaria.
Awareness of risk
When the destination countries or those that have to be passed through have been identified, an employee/student should contact their GP or a Travel Clinic for advice. If malaria is a risk, malarial prophylaxis medication should be obtained.
Bite avoidance
To avoid mosquito bites:
- use insect repellent such as DEET (20-50%) and reapply regularly
- keep your arms and legs covered with long sleeves and trousers between dusk and dawn
- ensure the area where you are sleeping is properly screened and air-conditioned; use a ‘knockdown’ spray to kill any mosquitoes before sleeping and if possible use an electric vaporiser with a fresh insecticide tablet each night
- if sleeping outside or in an unscreened room, sleep under an insecticide impregnated mosquito net and check regularly for holes; ensure the net is tucked under the mattress before dusk
Check if & when malaria prevention medication is needed
- contact GP or Travel Clinic for advice
- take the recommended tablets as instructed
- if a dose is missed, take that dose as soon as possible after the time it was due
- continue taking the tablets for the recommended period after leaving the risk area
Diagnosis & treatment
Seek prompt medical attention when:
- a fever (38o or more) develops
- flu-like illness develop
- you feel ill when abroad
If the above symptoms develop, up to one year after leaving a malarial region, seek medical attention and advise the doctor that these symptoms may be due to malaria and give details of where you have visited.
Some forms of malaria can be fatal; others produce a high fever and may lead to kidney, liver, brain and blood complications. When visiting a country where malaria is endemic and where accessibility to reliable medical care and facilities may take more than 24 hours, then seek an emergency treatment course if malaria symptoms develop. Occupational Health Service supply Emergency Medication Travel Kits for this purpose.
It is advisable to take an Emergency Medication Travel Kit when travelling abroad. The need for an Emergency Sterile Kit should be determined by the risk of illness and injury, how far the nearest medical facilities are and the standard of these healthcare facilities.
Occupational Health provides staff and students when identified by their supervisors, with the kits on request.
The Travel Kit Request Form should be completed and emailed to occupationalhealth@strath.ac.uk.
Confirmation of the request will be sent by email from Occupational Health and a date will be given for collection from Occupational Health Service, Level 2, Livingston Tower, 26 Richmond Street.
A small charge for the use of the kits will be made to the employee’s or student’s department. Kits must be returned to Occupational Health on return to the University.
In addition to the above kits, consider taking the following items:
- pain relief tablets, for example Paracetamol
- Calamine lotion or Hydrocortisone cream 1% for stings and burns
- plasters, cotton wool and antiseptic wipes
- travel sickness tablets
- indigestion remedies
- antiseptic hand gels
- antiseptic solution
- scissors, tweezers and torch
- thermometer
- condoms
- sunscreen lotion SPF15+
- cold sore treatment if susceptible (sunlight can trigger)
- water sterilising tablets/iodine
- insect repellant (Deet 50% (to avoid mosquito bites))
Travellers with pre-existing health conditions which need regular or intermittent treatment should take a sufficient supply of medicines to last for the length of the trip, and include adequate supply to cover for delays in travelling. Be aware that it may not always be possible to access this type of medication or treatment locally in the country that is being visited and the medication available may be counterfeit.
Seek medical advice prior to departure date to discuss the following:
- how may the trip affect pre-existing health problems
- the amount of medicines which may be needed may be more than that usually prescribed on a single prescription
- regular medical assessment or monitoring of the health problem may be required (for example, diabetes, anti-coagulant treatment, chemotherapy)
- the health problem can cause sudden incapacity e.g. epilepsy, diabetes, bleeding disorders, severe asthma
- impaired immunity for example, HIV disease; treatment with high-dose steroids; treatment with immuno-suppressant drugs
- the health problem has been severe enough for admission to hospital within the past year
- the medicines used in treatment are unusual
- the impact of the health problem limits the ability to undertake physical exertion (for example, heart disease, severe lung disease)
- check the need to carry a letter from a physician detailing the health problem and the usual management of this health problem
In addition, travellers should advise one other person who is travelling in the party or working within the destination country of the pre-existing health problem and the treatment so help and emergency treatment can be accessed if needed.
Recent major illness
Anyone intending to travel within three months of a major illness, for example, heart attack, stroke, any operation or treatment requiring an overnight stay in hospital should seek medical advice on their fitness to travel and work abroad.
Accidents abroad are an underestimated hazard. More travellers die from accidents than any other cause and most accidents are avoidable. Do not expose yourself to avoidable risks that you would not expose yourself to in your normal environment for example riding without a crash helmet, not wearing a seat belt, swimming or driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs and apply the same safety standards. Be aware that you are visiting unfamiliar places which may carry personal safety risks.
The University has a travel insurance policy which provides cover to staff and students travelling on University business. Costs of health care abroad can be very high and all staff and students must ensure all their requirements are covered adequately before travel. In addition, within the European Economic Area (EU plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway) and Switzerland, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles the carrier of the card to reduced-cost or free medical treatment which becomes necessary during an overseas trip, even for a chronic disease or pre-existing illness.
All staff/students travelling overseas on University business must complete and submit a Travel Insurance Notification form at least five working days prior to departure.
On confirmation of cover, the member of staff or student will be sent an email cover note providing policy number, emergency contact details and a summary of cover provided under the University's travel policy. Please note that until this email is received insurance cover for the trip is not guaranteed.
Check the Foreign and Commonwealth Office for up-to-date information and recommendations on any security risks for the countries that you are travelling to.
Always leave information with the University department about the travel arrangements and contact details if an emergency arises.