Overseas travellers warned of risk of hepatitis A and B
‘…it is alarming when travellers ignore the health risks in these destinations.’ Dr Bernie Hudson
Based on the results of a survey of Australian travellers1,2*, Dr Bernie Hudson an Australian travel health expert has warned that travellers have been putting themselves at risk of infectious diseases such as hepatitis A and B when abroad.1,2
The survey of 503 respondents who had travelled overseas between 2001 and 2003 showed that over 60% failed to seek travel health advice before their departure.1
Dr Bernie Hudson, microbiologist and infectious disease physician at Royal North Shore Hospital, Sydney, expressed concern that travellers were not taking the risk of hepatitis A and B seriously enough.
Whilst hepatitis A can be contracted through ingestion of contaminated food and water1, hepatitis B – common in many popular travel destinations – can be spread through contact with infected blood and other body fluids. This can occur as a result of2:
- unprotected sexual contact with an infected person
- an accident or medical emergency that requires surgery in a hospital with poorly sterilised equipment, or
- exposure to contaminated needles during medical treatment, acupuncture, piercing or tattooing.
This means seemingly innocent activities or any mishap requiring medical treatment can put a traveller at risk of exposure to hepatitis B.3
Infection with the hepatitis B virus can cause acute illness with symptoms including yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain.4 It can take up to a year to recover completely from the illness.4
In some cases, hepatitis B may even lead to chronic infection that can later develop into cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer.4
Dr Hudson expressed concern that travellers staying in high quality accommodation may travel with a false sense of security. He noted that individuals can still be at risk of hepatitis A in high-quality accommodation, as hotel staff preparing food often reside in rural areas with poor living conditions. ‘In many cases it is the nice looking hotel buffets that are the real culprits,’ said Dr Hudson, ‘People make assumptions that the higher the class of accommodation, the safer they are.’
Because of the possibility of an accident, travellers would be well advised to consider the World Health Organization’s recommendation: that hepatitis B vaccination be considered for virtually all non-immune travellers visiting areas with moderate to high risk of hepatitis B infection.5
For further information about hepatitis B vaccination, please ask your doctor.
“The (hepatitis B) vaccine should be considered for virtually all non-immune individuals travelling to areas with moderate to high risk of infection.”5
World Health Organization
*Survey conducted by the Travel Health Advisory Group and financially supported by GlaxoSmithKline.
References. 1. Zwar N & Streeton CL. J Travel Med 2007;14(1):31–36. 2. Streeton CL & Zwar N. J Travel Med 2006;13(6):345–350. 3. Spira AM. Clin Ther 2003;25:2337–2351. 4. WHO Fact Sheet, No 204. 5. World Health Organization. International Travel and Health. Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2009, page 106.
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