Physician Urges Broader Travel Health Planning as 43% to 79% of Travelers Fall Ill
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 24
Physician Urges Broader Travel Health Planning as 43% to 79% of Travelers Fall Ill
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Oct 24
Summary
43% to 79% of travelers to low- and middle-income countries become ill during or after trips, Andrés Henao said, arguing pretravel care should cover self-treatment plans, warning signs and medicines—not just vaccines.
Destination and itinerary shape the biggest risks: dengue is a leading concern in much of Latin America and Asia, malaria in parts of sub-Saharan Africa, and typhoid in South Asia.
10% to 40% of travelers get diarrhea in the first two weeks of a trip; Henao said travelers should discuss oral rehydration salts, loperamide limits and when to carry antibiotics for severe cases.
A travel health kit should include regular medications, extra supplies and destination-specific drugs, while popular remedies such as probiotics for diarrhea prevention and acupressure bands for motion sickness lack strong evidence.
Since early 2025, shifting outbreaks—including yellow fever in South America and record chikungunya spread in China—have changed risk maps, underscoring the need for updated advice and rapid care for red-flag symptoms such as post-travel fever.