Travelling

TRAVEL HEALTH CLINIC

When you travel abroad, especially to places where the standards of hygiene and sanitary control are underdeveloped, you are at risk of catching dangerous infectious diseases. Be sure you take the right precautions before you leave.

Please book 'Travel Health Clinic' in University Health Service.

Our Aims

• To promote and maintain health in travelling
  
• To assess travel-related risks and recommend necessary precautions.
  
• To help travellers plan a safe and enjoyable journey.

Services

Booking Procedures

Appointment in advance is essential.
Please attend the Travel Health Clinic at least 4-6 weeks before departure.

1. Individual Advice

• Free of charge when appointment is scheduled and booked two weeks in advance before your travel

• For appointment outside normal sessions and within two weeks before your travel, HK$100 per session

2. Group Session (7 persons or more)

• Free of charge if arranged two weeks prior to your travel

• For appointment outside normal sessions and within two weeks before your travel, HK$100 per person per session

3. Default Travel Health Clinic Appointment / Talk Charge (DNA Charge)

• Default Travel Health Clinic Appointment / Talk Charge (DNA Charge) of $50.00 will apply for failure to attend OR late arrivals for 20 minutes or more of the booked Travel Health Clinic appointment.

• The service may also be cancelled if late for 20 minutes or more, depending on availability of the provider's time.

• If you are not able to attend the appointment, please contact University Health Service at least 24 hours before by telephone 2549 4686 or in person.

• For details about the DNA charge, please click here.

VACCINATION

Vaccinations take time to be effective, antibodies usually develop 2 weeks after vaccination. Not all vaccinations can be given at the same time. Please plan your vaccinations at least 4 to 6 weeks prior departure.

Common Vaccinations for travelling:

Poliomyelitis

A full primary course is usually completed on or before 12 years of age. Booster is required if travelling to endemic or epidemic areas. Booster providers life-long protection.

Typhoid

An intestinal infection that can lead to serious complications. Spread by ingestion of contaminated food or drink. Immunization is acquired by a course of 1 injection. Booster is required every 2 years.

Tetanus

Wounds are potential sources of tetanus infection. A course of 3 injections is required, followed by a booster once every 10 years or after injury with potentially hazardous wounds.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A may be contracted from contaminated water or food. A course of 2 vaccinations is given at 6-12 months apart. Immunity starts within 2 weeks after the 1st vaccination and is effective for 10-20 years after the completed full course.

Yellow Fever

Under the International Health Regulations, International Certificate of Vaccination against Yellow Fever may be required when entering some parts of Central and South America and some African countries. Immunization is acquired by a course of 1 injection. Immunity starts 10 days after vaccination and is effective for 10 years. Injections are ONLY available at Department of Health and booking is required:

Port Health Travel Health Centre (Hong Kong): Room 26, 18/F Wu Chung House, 213 Queen's Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong; Telephone 2961-8840

Port Health Travel Health Centre (Kowloon): 1/F., Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road; Telephone 2150-7235

Cholera

The World Health Organisation no longer recommends this vaccination because of its low and short lived protection. However, a certificate of vaccination may be required for travel to some countries where the disease is endemic.

Other Vaccines

You may require protection for Meningococcal Meningitis, Japanese B Encephalitis, Hepatitis B, Diphtheria, Influenza, Rabies or others depending on your destination.

For further information on vaccination, please visit 'Traveller's Health' by Department of Health or Immunization by UHS.

PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT OF INSECT AND ANIMAL BITES

Malaria, Dengue Fever, Japanese Encephalitis and Yellow Fever are transmitted through mosquito bite.

Anti-mosquito measures are important.

• Wear hats, long sleeved clothes and trousers to avoid insect bites.


• Wear light-colour clothing.


• Tuck pants into socks.


• Choose shoes rather than sandals.


• Avoid outdoor activity between dusk and dawn.


• Use insect repellants that contain diethytotuamide (DEET) on exposed parts of the body and reapply regularly.


• Use bed-nets impregnated with Permethrin or spray with insecticide.

Rabies is transmitted through animal bites and can be deadly. Do not provoke or touch any animal. When walking outdoors at night, do wear covered shoes and bring a flashlight.

Care for animal bites and scratches

For superficial wounds:

• Wash with soapy water for at least 5 minutes


• Flush with antiseptic lotion or > 40% alcohol


• Apply an antiseptic lotion



• Watch for signs of infection at the site: fever, increasing redness, pain and swellin

For deeper wounds or wounds from a strange animal:

• Stop bleeding with direct pressure


• Wash with soapy water for at least 5 minutes


• Flush with antiseptic lotion


• Dry wound and cover with sterile dressing


• Consult a doctor because additional treatments may be needed



• If possible, locate the animal; some may need to be captured and observed for rabies

• If the animal cannot be found, or the animal attack is unprovoked, the victim may need rabies shots

Call for doctor for any flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, tiredness, loss of appetite, or swollen glands following an animal bite.

If bitten by a snake or a venomous insect e.g. spider, scorpion, apply firm pressure with a bandage to the area, do NOT suck or cut the wound and AVOID moving the injured limb.

Attend a hospital as soon as possible and bring along the animal if it is dead.

To avoid underwater bites or stings, avoid jellyfish and stonefish areas. Wear strong footwear if walking in reef region. On being stung by jellyfish, neutralize the wound with vinegar and soak in hot water as this can denature some venom. Do also remove any tentacle adhere to the wound. Anti-venom may be needed for certain species such as box jellyfish.

MALARIA PREVENTION

Doxycycline can prevent malaria and should be taken one day before and throughout the journey, then continue for 4 weeks after leaving the area as recommended.

Please check if malaria prevention is required for your itinerary:
CDC Travellers' Health

Antimalarial prophylactic regimes are available but cannot guarantee full protection.

Anti-mosquito measures are important.

• Wear hats, long sleeved clothes and trousers to avoid insect bites.

• Wear light-colour clothing.

• Tuck pants into socks.

• Choose shoes rather than sandals.

• Avoid outdoor activity between dusk and dawn.

• Use insect repellants that contain diethytotuamide (DEET) on exposed parts of the body and reapply regularly.

• Use bed-nets impregnated with Permethrin or spray with insecticide.

ALTITUDE ILLNESS AND PREVENTION

Altitude sickness is a risk for travellers at heights above 2500 metres. It is due to low oxygen pressure in the air.

Altitude illness is divided into three syndromes: acute mountain sickness (AMS), high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) and high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE).

Our body can gradually adjust to high altitude (acclimatisation).
AMS can be prevented by ascending slowly at a rate of 300m per day, increasing fluid intake, avoiding over-exertion, large meals and alcohol and use of azetazolamide (Diamox).

Symptoms of AMS appear within a few hours of ascent and include headache, nausea, tiredness, insomnia and shortness of breath.
The illness may progress to high-altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) with severe shortness of breath, dry cough, chest tightness or high-altitude cerebral oedema (HACE) with drowsiness, confusion, unbalanced gait. They can result in death.

Treatments of mild symptoms include limiting activity level, taking analgesia and refraining from further ascent.
Descend 500m - 1000m is usually effective if symptoms do not subside or become worse.

Acetazolamide (Diamox)
It can prevent or lessen AMS symptoms and help with acclimatisation.
It is contraindicated in those with sulphonamide hypersensitivity.

Side effects include:

• tingling of face, fingers and toes

• taste disturbance

• loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting

• headache, dizziness, blurring of vision, irritability

• thirst, increased urination

FOOD AND DRINK HYGIENE

This is important in preventing gastro-intestinal problems.

• Always wash hands before eating, food handling and after attending the toilet.

• Wash and peel fruit by self. Choose thick peel fruit like bananas, oranges instead of thin peel ones such as apples, grapes. Avoid peeled fruit.

• Filter water first or use iodine for water purification if necessary, then boil.

• Always boil water and milk unless you are absolutely certain they are safe. Boil water for 5 to 10 minutes.

• Do not assume local bottled water is safe.

• Try to stick to factory-bottled drinks. Open drinks by yourself and drink with reliable cups or straws.

• Carbonated drinks are safer than uncarbonated drinks.

• Be cautious with foods that can be easily contaminated such as:

  • milk, ice-cream and dairy products

  • salads, cut fruits and uncooked vegetables

  • raw or reheated food

  • uncooked or undercooked shellfish, 'drunken' seafood

  • uncooked or undercooked meat

  • food or drink from unlicensed street vendors

  • ice

• Food freshly cooked and served hot is usually safer.

TRAVELLERS DIARRHOEA

Travellers' diarrhoea usually settles without medication. Keep hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids and eat light foods. If diarrhoea persists for more than one day, oral rehydration salt (ORS) solution is recommended. If ORS is unavailable, use the following solution as substitute for both children and adults:
To one litre of safe drinking water, mix 6 level teaspoons sugar (white, brown or honey) and 1 teaspoon salt.

Medications to stop diarrhoea are available in the UHS and Traveller's Medical Pack. They are not recommended for general use and should never be used in children.

For details, please click here.

CLOTHING

Have enough suitable clothing for the climate to which you are going. If you will be walking a lot, make sure you have comfortable walking shoes and several pairs of socks. Remember, under adverse conditions in wilderness areas, your life can depend on your clothing, camping gear and footwear.

SKIN CARE

For small sores on the skin, clean and wash with warm water or diluted Savlon solution.

Wash as often as possible, particularly the feet, and dry well.

Don't get sunburnt. Have cover-ups like umbrellas, broad rim hat and long sleeves. Use good quality sunscreen and after-sun moisturizing products.

EYES

Wear good quality sun-glasses.

SUGGESTED MEDICAL KIT

"First aid kit" is a packet of first aid materials for dressing minor wounds.

"Traveller's Medical Pack (Eng / Chi) ", a packet of medication for symptomatic relief of minor ailments.

They can be available in the University Health Service. Please fill in the appropriate request forms if needed.

Other relevant items may include scissors, insect repellents, sunscreen products etc.

IF YOU HAVE A KNOWN MEDICAL PROBLEM

Discuss your itinerary with your own health care provider who will advise you on special precautions to take.

If your problem is complex, ask your doctor to give you a brief resume of your medical history. This can be very helpful.

Take an adequate supply of medication which you use regularly.

AFTER THE TRIP

Upon returning, consult a doctor if:

• you feel ill in the weeks after with the following signs and symptoms:

  • fever

  • rash or other skin problems

  • persistent loose or watery stool, or vomiting

  • yellowing of the eyes or skin

  • urinary symptoms

  • symptoms of genitalia

  • or other unwell

• consider you have been exposed to a serious infectious disease while travelling

Remember to tell your doctor where you have been, including transit countries.

Frequent travellers should give details of ALL journeys of the preceeding weeks and months.

Enjoy your trip!