A Second 'Passport' To Eliminate Unwanted Stress And Medical Costs

By Hazlinda Hamzah KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 13 (Bernama) -- Falling ill is surely not a pleasant experience for any traveller, especially when on holiday or work visit to a foreign land. Malaysians were recently reminded to obtain health insurance when travelling abroad, including to neighbouring countries, for fear of being charged exorbitantly for seeking treatment. High medical costs will be covered if one is covered by a health insurance, protecting him for any unexpected medical and health shortcomings. However, the best method would be to safeguard health at all times, through the exercising of a recommended healthy lifestyle and vaccinations. And that would enable them to be eligible for second passport – the health document that will reduce dangerous exposures to unknown viruses and bacteria. How can one enhance his health to be fit to travel? One will need to answer some questions first to determine if he is susceptible to acute travel health risks. FIT TO FLY To be fit-to-fly may not just be as simple as to obtain the international passport and necessary visas when one begins a journey or travel. It certainly is more than that. The Malaysian Society of Infectious Diseases and Chemotherapy (MSIDC) recently posed some important questions for travellers. The questions include the frequency of consulting a doctor on health needs prior to travel as well as the kind of travel intended on; whether it requires more outdoor or indoor exposures. Falling sick during previous travel is also a concern,the current medical condition of the traveller. And if the answer is in the affirmative, that will put the traveller at a higher risk of falling sick. 'How long will the trip be?' The answer will also determine the level of risk a traveller will be facing while out of the country. Professor Dr Hamimah Hassan, council member of MSIDC, elaborated on the importance of consulting a physician on the health risks in the destination country. “Ask your doctor how to protect yourself from those risks. Even if your travel is only a day away, it is beneficial to consult your medical doctor. Get advice on health risks and preventive measures,” Prof Dr Hamimah, who is also the Deputy Dean of Undergraduate and Diploma programme, at the Faculty of Medical Science, University Malaya explained. PREVENTION More people can afford air travel now, and this opens the accessibility gates to international travel. According to statistics from the World Tourism Organisation, international arrivals worldwide in 2009 for business, leisure and other purposes has touched the 880 million mark. International arrivals are expected to grow by two fold to 1.6 billion in 2020. A survey by MasterCard on consumer purchasing priorities also revealed that at least 31 per cent of Malaysians travelled abroad for leisure in the past 12 months. “A majority of travellers do not realise that travel-planning does not only involve booking your tickets and accommodation, and ensuring your passport is up to date. It actually also involves a lot of forward planning. I would seriously suggest that for peace of mind while on vacation or trips abroad, act fast and get protected,” said Prof Dr Hamimah. There are many common travel-related diseases in countries around us that can be prevented through the protection of vaccines. Hepatitis, typhoid and influenza, among many others, can be transmitted through contaminated food and water, unsafe sexual practices or through droplet transmission when coughing, sneezing or talking. Although the severity of diseases such as hepatitis and typhoid may vary, a small percentage of patients could suffer from chronic health problems as a result of the complications from the diseases that are vaccine-preventable in the first place. INFECTIONS According to the World Health Organisation or WHO, close to two billion people worldwide have been infected by the Hepatitis B virus and almost 350 million live with chronic infection from this virus. And in another study, hepatitis A and B was found to represent the most prevalent vaccine-preventable diseases, followed by typhoid fever. “The best way to minimise and prevent such consequences is to protect from the very beginning, in the form of vaccination. It is recommended that we should visit our doctor at least four to eight weeks prior to travelling. But if you have less than four weeks before departure, it is still never too late to pay your doctor a visit,” Prof Dr Hamimah advised. If unprotected, the costs incurred to seek treatment upon falling sick in a foreign country can ruin the original intent of a vacation or work visit. There are three types of vaccination a traveller should consider: mandatory, routine and selective. These are determined by conditions in the country visited as well as possible diseases or infections most likely to harm travellers whilst there. CHILDREN AND VACCINATION Are these vaccines safe for young children who accompany their parents on these travels? “Yes, of course. Babies less than one year old can be given the necessary jabs in the right dosages intended for their age. After all infants are already given their first hepatitis jab. However, about 1 to 2 per cent of human beings refuse to build antibodies after vaccination,” she said. No vaccine can guarantee 100 per cent protection against any infection but it protects at a high level of at least 90 per cent. There have been occasional reports of allergy to certain vaccines including hepatitis jabs, which are given in three doses. However, most people react positively to these vaccines. People who have forgotten the series of jabs they had already taken for precaution against diseases can resolve their questions through screenings and available tests. “Just take a booster jab to boost up the level of the vaccine antibody taken earlier. The body has a built in memory on its available list of antibodies, a smart natural system indeed,” advised Prof Dr Hamimah. -- BERNAMA