Healthy vacations—how to reduce the risk of illness while on vacation?

Your vacation is just around the corner. In hotels or restaurants, and even while traveling—at the airport, on a plane, or on a train—we often come into contact with foreign bacterial flora. If we don’t properly protect ourselves against pathogenic microorganisms, we may develop an infection. So how can we reduce this risk and avoid ruining our vacation with an illness? 

Foreign bacterial and fungal flora

When planning a vacation, especially abroad, we should remember that foreign bacterial and fungal flora can be very dangerous, so when packing our suitcases, we shouldn’t forget to include items that will help us protect ourselves against pathogenic microorganisms. And these lurk not only at our destination, but already on the way there.  Bacteria and viruses thrive in modes of transportation such as trains, planes, and cars, including E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus, fecal bacteria, and rotaviruses responsible for so-called stomach flu. Legionella pneumophila is also exceptionally dangerous—a bacterium that causes Legionnaires’ disease, a severe infectious respiratory illness. This bacterium thrives in all types of air conditioning systems, which, if not properly maintained, “spray” the microorganisms present inside when turned on. People in close proximity to air conditioning vents (e.g., in a car or on a plane) are particularly vulnerable to these microorganisms; therefore, when sitting near an air conditioning unit, remember to adjust the airflow so that it is not directed directly at you.

Pathogenic microorganisms are also found on all objects touched by thousands of travelers—including handrails, countertops, handles, doorknobs, and plastic parts of seats and luggage compartments. To prevent potential infection while traveling by train or plane, especially before eating and after using the restroom, you should disinfect your hands, which are the primary carriers of germs. A hand sanitizer spray is ideal for any trip; it is available, for example, at the online store dezynfekcja.pl. Its small size and capacity allow you to pack it in your carry-on luggage (even when traveling by plane), so it is always within reach.

The same bacteria and viruses also lurk in hotels, guesthouses, and restaurants. They are present on objects such as light switches, doorknobs, stair railings, elevator buttons, TV remotes in hotel rooms, cabinet handles, chair backs, and all other surfaces that require touching. If we don’t want to risk an illness that, at best, will ruin our vacation and, at worst, lead to a more serious condition than “stomach flu,” we should take special care with hygiene, especially hand hygiene, by washing our hands frequently and using hand sanitizer.  Upon arrival at the hotel, it’s a good idea to disinfect the most frequently touched surfaces, which hotel staff don’t always remember to clean when preparing a room for new guests.

The Pharaoh’s Revenge

Many people traveling abroad do not realize that foreign bacterial flora (especially in countries where hygiene standards are lower than those in Europe) can cause severe digestive reactions, typically manifesting as fever, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. This combination of symptoms is commonly known as “Pharaoh’s Revenge,” as it most frequently affects European tourists in Arab countries. Scientists estimate that these symptoms occur in one out of every two tourists and are one of the most common causes of medical intervention among visitors to the Middle East. Although Pharaoh’s Revenge may seem harmless at first glance, it can lead to dehydration, which is life-threatening, especially in high temperatures, so it’s best to prevent it. To minimize the risk of infection during your vacation, you should first and foremost avoid street food prepared without access to running water, drink only bottled water, and frequently sanitize your hands. For your own safety, it’s also a good idea to switch from tap water to bottled water, for example, when brushing your teeth or washing fruits that you eat raw.

Exotic diseases

People traveling around the world (not only during the summer vacation season) are also at risk of many other serious diseases, including: typhoid fever, malaria, yellow fever, hepatitis A, polio, plague, cholera, and even rabies. Those most at risk are primarily people who choose Africa and Asian countries as their travel destinations and have not received the necessary vaccinations before departure. Many diseases are transmitted by parasites, and infection occurs through the digestive tract. In these regions of the world, travelers should avoid: eating meals in places without access to running water, and consuming raw foods; instead, they should: stock up on insect repellent (for mosquitoes, gnats, and flies) that carry diseases, wash fruits and vegetables before eating, and sanitize their hands before every meal.

When going on vacation, especially to exotic destinations, we should first and foremost get vaccinated well in advance to prevent serious, life-threatening diseases.

During travel, both abroad and domestically, it’s also worth paying special attention to hygiene, supplementing it with disinfection to reduce the risk of infection. Hand and surface disinfectant wipes, available for example here: dezynfekcja.pl, are perfect for this purpose. Thanks to their small size, we can always keep them on hand to fully enjoy our vacation in good health. MEDISEPT Hand and Surface Disinfectant Wipes (20-count pouches) — Dezynfekcja.pl