Problems Caused by Illness during Business Travel

Each year, millions of Americans travel overseas for work-related reasons. As the economy becomes more globalized, corporate travel and health concerns tied to it, will increase. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommend a travel health consultation at least 4 to 6 weeks in before traveling.

But, short notice business trips might make a travel health appointment difficult or even impossible. Missed or incomplete vaccines increase the risk of becoming sick abroad. Popular destinations like India and Thailand have endemic diseases not seen in North America. The CDC recommends business travelers be up-to-date for their routine vaccinations including:

• MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
• Chickenpox
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• TDaP (Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis)

Other recommended vaccinations may include:

• Yellow Fever
• Typhoid
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Polio
• Rabies

Another business travel problem is jet lag. Corporate travelers rarely have the time to acclimate. A tired body is more susceptible to disease. Sudden injury or illness in an unfamiliar location can make getting adequate and timely care difficult at best. Especially if you are traveling to an exotic or developing world location.

Corporate travelers are exposed to a host of other travel-related stressors. These include:

• Lack of time to exercise
• Lack of a balanced and nutritious diet while traveling
• Forgetting or running out of medication

Staying Healthy While Traveling for Work

There are ways to prevent many travel-related health problems. With the right precautions you can make the most of your time and productivity overseas:

Get a Pre-Travel Health Exam

A pre-travel health exam will ensure that chronic medical conditions you may have are under control. A travel health specialist can also help you receive an adequate supply of medication for your trip. Written copies of your medical and immunization records can also be provided.

Get Vaccinated

Travel immunizations can prevent many serious illnesses, including yellow fever, hepatitis A and B, and typhoid fever. See our vaccinations page to learn more about the vaccines you may need and why they are important.

Pack With Care

Be sure to pack the health, medical and first aid supplies necessary to ensure your good health. This might include:

• A basic first aid kit
• Prescription medicines
• Sunscreen
• Mosquito repellent
• Over-the-counter medications such as pain relievers, anti-histamines, anti-diarrhea and anti-constipation remedies
• Bring your own water purification tablets and oral rehydration solution. Especially if you are traveling to an area where clean water may not be available.

Visit a travel health specialist, even if it is on the same day you leave. You will rest easy knowing you have taken a huge step in preventing unexpected problems during your trip.

Sources:
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/getting-health-care-abroad
https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/20/business/whats-worse-than-getting-sick-getting-sick-while-traveling.html

When individuals consider international travel, one of their major concerns is vaccination requirements, which vary depending upon the destination and planned activities overseas. However, vaccines should be a consideration for domestic travelers as well. Throughout the United States, vaccination requirements actually vary by region because of exemption rules that are applied on a state-by-state basis. Although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes vaccination policy recommendations on a national level, states are in control of both creating and enforcing vaccine legislation. To better clarify the regional variances, Nursing@Simmons created an interactive map of vaccination exemptions by state to provide a visualization of the national dynamics.

What Types Of Exemptions Are There?

Although they vary among states, vaccination exemptions are provided for medical, religious, and philosophical reasons.

• Medical exemption: An MD or doctor of osteopathy (DO) typically is required to write a medical exemption, but, in some states, other types of health care workers are able to certify that one is needed.
• Religious exemption: This exemption is based on First Amendment rights for religious freedom, but can be withdrawn if the state can provide a compelling reason for requiring vaccination.
• Philosophical, conscientious, or personal belief exemption: This is a blanket exemption, and must include all vaccines. In some states, collaboration with a healthcare professional is required—as well as the completion of a vaccine education program.

As noted on the map, the majority of states that permit exemptions either include all three types, or religious and medical exemptions only. There are just three states that limit exemptions to those related to medical reasons alone: West Virginia, Mississippi, and California.

Why Does It Matter?

The variance in state vaccination requirements creates the potential for increased risk to both individual and community health. According to the CDC, there is evidence that an increased incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) may be associated with higher rates of nonmedical exemptions. In addition, philosophical exemptions often occur in specific geographical pockets—a dynamic that places individuals in those areas at an increased risk for contracting VPDs, like pertussis and measles. Such diseases can represent a significant health risk for anyone who is unvaccinated—especially children and older adults.

In the U.S., VPDs have been officially declared as eradicated—although there are intermittent flare-ups of certain diseases, such as the occurrences of measles in 2014. Often, such transmissions can be linked to international travel—whether it’s someone visiting the U.S. from another country or an unvaccinated U.S. citizen who has contracted a VPD in a region where the disease is still somewhat prevalent.

This makes travel vaccinations even more important, as a single traveler can cause a notable risk to his or her community if there are individuals who are unable or unwilling to undergo routine vaccinations.

Vaccine vigilance when considering domestic travel is just one more reason to gain better insight into state-based exemptions—and how they may impact both your health and that of your family members.

To learn more about routine and travel vaccinations such as the polio, yellow fever and MMR vaccines see our routine vaccination and travel vaccination portals.

Planning a trip in 2016? You might just want to renew your passport now.

But, that renewal may be more difficult this year as the U.S. State Department is anticipating a surge in renewals and new passports due to unusually high passport activity in 2006 and 2007. Add to this an increased interest in travel and the Real ID Act making travelers from some states use passports instead of state ID; travelers could be in for some real delays.

The State Department hopes to avoid being overwhelmed again a decade after the 2006-2007 travel seasons by requesting travelers renew their passports as soon as possible. Most countries require at least six months validity on passports in order to enter the country. This means you may need to renew your passport before your trip, even if it may not have expired.

If you are thinking about traveling in 2016, even if you haven’t booked a flight, consider renewing your passport now to avoid any travel hiccups. A late passport could cause you to have to delay or cancel your trip, especially if you are going to a country that requires a visa.

Passport Health’s Travel Document Services can help you start your passport renewal process today. Simply contact us and we will work with you to get everything organized and ready for your new passport.