The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) wants you to “surf before you fly” and check out its website www.travelhealth.gc.ca for advice on how to stay healthy during your travels.
On the website, check out Well on Your way: A Canadian’s Guide to Healthy Travel Abroad for advice on health and safety measures for before, during and after you travel. Take the guide with you by printing it off or by ordering a free pocket-size version off the website.
Before you go, you should also view PHAC’s Travel Health Notices. Find out if there are any health risks at your destination and what measures you can take to help reduce these risks.
Folks can stay connected with the latest notices through Twitter and Facebook.
Apart from the notices, you may also want to search for specific information on the country you’re planning to visit. PHAC recently posted travel health information on 10 of the most popular Canadian destinations, such as Mexico, Cuba and the United Kingdom, with more to come soon. Give the site a visit for recommendations for your destination – you may require a vaccination prior to travel or there may be a health outbreak you don’t know about.
Have additional questions on vaccines? Check out the website for a list of recommended vaccinations for travel. Also, try to see your health-care provider preferably six weeks before you go. They’ll assess your needs and give you advice on what vaccines you may need based on where you plan to visit. For example, some countries require you show a Certificate of Vaccination before they’ll allow you to enter their country.
Furthermore, the website has fact sheets about diseases and health conditions you may come across in your travels and how to avoid them, such as malaria or the ever-dreaded travellers’ diarrhea. You can also find population specific information, such as recommendations on travelling safely while pregnant, and other tools like guidance on how to stay hydrated while abroad and what to pack in a travel health kit.
Being prepared can make a big difference between an enjoyable, problem-free travel experience and an unpleasant one, whether you’re travelling for work or play, or visiting family and friends. Visit www.travelhealth.gc.ca before you travel.
