As summer nears, many Brits are prepping for their much-anticipated holiday getaways. However, it’s vital to stay up-to-date with the latest health and safety guidance before jetting off.
Health expert Dr Anjali Pai from the UK Health Security Agency is leading the charge in a recent informative video on essential health tips for holidaymakers. In the midst of the excitement around packing and planning, Dr Pai stressed that well-being should not be neglected.
“My name is Anjali Pai, and I am one of the consultants in health protection and one of the border health leads of the UK Health Security Agency,” she said in a post shared to X. “Before we go on holiday, there are some things we can all do to reduce the risk of us becoming unwell.
“First of all, you can check the Travel Health Pro website, which has got really good information on travelling and things to do before we travel. There are also government advisory websites on travel to other countries, if there are any health risks to be concerned with.”
With these pointers in mind, Dr Pai highlighted the significance of vaccinations to ward off illnesses both home and abroad. Certain countries mandate proof of vaccinations, such as yellow fever certificates, for entry.
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Dr Pai added: “Things like hepatitis A and typhoid can be easily prevented by a vaccine.” Beyond this, she also shared essential tips to stay well while travelling.
One key recommendation from Dr Pai is to maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene. “A simple thing is hand hygiene,” Dr Pai went on. “So, just washing your hands for 30 seconds with warm water and soap before you eat, after you go to the toilet, is a really simple measure that can prevent the spread of many infections.
“Good respiratory hygiene, and by this, it’s just about coughing and sneezing into a tissue, disposing of it sensibly and washing your hands afterwards. There are also other things, such as preventing yourself from getting mosquito bites by wearing long-sleeved clothing, using mosquito sprays and mosquito nets.
“And finally, safe sexual health is something we should all be practising when we are abroad by using condoms.” It’s vital to seek medical attention if you feel unwell after returning to the UK, regardless of previous visits or residence in the country.
Previous guidance from NHS Inform has outlined: “You should seek medical help even if it’s up to one month after you’ve been travelling.
“Always make sure you tell the health professional that you’ve recently travelled abroad. This is especially important if you have been to a country where malaria is a risk.”
For more specific and up-to-date information, visit the Travel Health Pro website.