Foreign travel can be intoxicating, and we can be easily tempted into sharing in local rituals and experiencing local culinary customs, and the more exotic or unusual the location the more we like to go the extra mile to blend in. Travels to parts of Africa, Asia, Central and South America and even parts of Eastern Europe offer great adventure and cultural education, but whether you are there for work or leisure, there is also huge risk to your health, and Hepatitis A & B are amongst the most prevalent and most dangerous risks.
What are Hepatitis A & B?
Hepatitis A is a viral disease that can infect a person through digesting food or water, and is common in areas where sanitary standards are poor. The virus is commonly found in street foods, fresh foods, iced water and shellfish. The symptoms of Hepatitis A include excessive tiredness, nausea, stomach pains, fever and jaundice (a yellow colour to the skin and eyes). This virus is not fatal unless combined with a more serious health condition, such as a liver complaint. However, this illness can affect a person for weeks and months and can incapacitate an individual long after they have returned back to the UK.
On the other hand, Hepatitis B is a more serious virus and can be transmitted through infected bodily fluids, such as blood, drug injection or sexual contact. This virus can cause chronic liver disease, cirrhosis or liver cancer and can remain in the body forever.
The risks of Hepatitis A or B when you travel
The health and safety regulations of a country are not always our priority when we travel, and it is easy to drink tap water or accept food in a rural village, while people can also have sexual encounters or partake of drug use without understanding the possible consequences. Also, harmless procedures at home, such as a piercing, tattoo or even a manicure could be very dangerous in a high-risk area. Both Hepatitis A & B are very rare in the UK, but are particularly prevalent in areas such as:
- Sub-Saharan and northern Africa
- The Indian subcontinent (particularly India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal)
- Some parts of East and Southeast Asia (but not including Japan)
- The Middle East
- South and Central America
- Southern parts of Eastern and Central Europe
You should take particular precautions when travelling to these areas, and be aware of risks such as:
- Areas with poor sanitation
- Areas with poor food and water hygiene
- Areas with a known risk of Hepatitis A or B
- Areas where you will be living or socialising with local people for an extended period of time, and where there is a known risk of Hepatitis A or B
How to prevent infection from Hepatitis A and B
Of course, you can prevent infection from these viruses by being cautious in how you mix with people in affected areas and what local customs you engage in. This means avoiding the consumption of water that isn’t bottled or boiled, while you can also avoid raw or undercooked food and shellfish. Avoiding unprotected sex is also advisable, while any procedures including a needle should also be approached with caution. However, by far the most effective method of avoiding the Hepatitis A or B virus is to take the Hepatitis A or B vaccine.
The Hepatitis A and B vaccines are a preventive measure which can safeguard your health prior to travel and provide the most effective barrier to contracting the virus. The Hepatitis A and B vaccine can offer long term immunity from the effects of the virus, protecting the individual for over a decade if they follow the full course of doses. It is recommended that an individual makes arrangements to receive the vaccine as soon as they know that travel to a high-risk area is imminent, ideally six to eight weeks prior.
Travel Clinic Bromley for the Hepatitis A and B vaccine
At Travel Clinic Bromley we can offer a full course of the Hepatitis A and B vaccine, which is usually up to three doses. If you contact our team we can advise on the risks of travelling to specific areas, what to watch out for, what the possible symptoms of the virus are and what you should avoid. If you want the best and most effective method of preventing the contraction of Hepatitis A or B, then undertake a full course of the Hepatitis A and B vaccine and book with Travel Clinic Bromley today.
