Fun in Paradise: Tips for healthy warm weather trips

You’ve got your heart set on a tropical getaway, saying “Adios” to winter woes and “Hola” to fun in the sun. As spring break rolls around, many Canadians are busy preparing for that oh so welcome vacation in paradise. Planning adventures and excursions and some down time just lolling on the beach. It all sounds perfect, doesn’t it? Well, it can be, if you take a few precautions to keep a certain holiday spoiler at bay. 

Spoiler Alert

Yes, let’s talk about that elephant in the (bath)room – diarrhea during travel. Commonly caused by Enterotoxigenic E.coli (ETEC) bacteria hiding in contaminated food and water, statistics show that around 50% of travellers experience some sort of diarrhea during visits to destinations like the Caribbean, Mexico, Africa, Indonesia, South America and beyond. It’s a nasty way to spend a holiday, when  simple preventative measures such as an oral vaccine, proper hand hygiene and watching what you eat and drink can help you stay healthy.

Amir Mokhtari is a Travel Health Pharmacist in Vancouver, BC. Over the past decade, he’s seen his share of people who wished they’d taken that advice. He shares, “Obviously we don’t want to take the fun out of the trip, because one part of travelling is trying new foods. If you really want to protect yourself, a good mantra is heat it, peel it, cook it or leave it. Basically, anything hot is fine. Hot tea, hot coffee, food that is served hot, but avoid eating food served at room temperature. Bottled water and carbonated drinks or canned drinks are totally fine but avoid ice in your cocktail.”

Amir notes that fruit is ok if you wash it and peel it yourself, because a pathogen can’t penetrate the fruit skin. You should also carry a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol and use it often, especially at places without stations to wash your hands properly. 

As for the oral vaccine – it’s an easy preventive option. Discuss it with a Travel Health Provider at least two weeks before departure.

Beware of the bite

Mosquito-borne diseases such as chikungunya and Japanese encephalitis are becoming more common in certain parts of the world. Amir explains, “If you’re traveling to an area where these diseases are present or staying in an exotic region for an extended period of time, it’s a good idea to discuss vaccines with a Travel Health Provider at least 4-6 weeks before your trip. Vaccines can help protect against diseases like Japanese encephalitis and chikungunya, and you can receive them well in advance of travel.”

To avoid mosquito bites while you’re away, it’s wise to cover up as much as possible. Wear long-sleeved, breathable shirts, long pants, shoes rather than sandals and apply an insect repellant containing DEET or icaridin.

Best advice for staying healthy on vacation? 

Amir says, “Definitely get vaccinated. People tell me, “I’ve been to Mexico a bunch of times and I never get sick,” and my reply is – if you drive without a seatbelt for a year, you are most likely going to be ok. But you always want to have that seatbelt on because you never know what’s going to hit you. Travel diseases can ruin a vacation and can have long-term health consequences. This isn’t something that should be taken lightly.  

“I love to travel. I highly recommend to anyone that graduates from high school or university to travel for a year before you settle, because you learn so much. Travel opens up your mind about different cultures; you make good memories and you’re never too old to enjoy it!”