UK health agency issues update to anyone with summer holiday booked
With summer now here, countless Brits are flying abroad for some much-needed holiday time. But before jetting off, it's crucial to stay up to date with the latest health and safety advice.
Dr Anjali Pai from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has taken the lead in this effort, creating an informative video with essential tips for travellers. As you eagerly await your summer trip abroad, Dr Pai emphasised that well-being remains important and should not be overlooked.
"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."
Bearing this in mind, Dr Pai also outlined the importance of vaccinations in dodging illnesses both at home and abroad. Some countries mandate proof of vaccinations, such as yellow fever certificates, for entry.
Dr Pai contiinued: "Things like hepatitis A and typhoid can be easily prevented by a vaccine." Another key recommendation from Dr Pai is to maintain good hand and respiratory hygiene.
"A simple thing is hand hygiene," Dr Pai said. "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." Seek medical attention if you feel unwell after returning to the UK, regardless of prior visits or residence.
Further guidance from NHS Inform states: "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."
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