When an outbreak as contagious as Swine Flu breaks out while you are traveling overseas it can be a very anxious, nail-biting time. First of all, depending on where you are, it may be hard to find good information and advice. Thankfully, these days the Internet helps to solve this issue. Below are tips on staying safe during a serious outbreak while traveling.
There are some foundational principles you should always practice when traveling. Always arrange a way to stay in communication with 2 or 3 people back home. Someone should know where you are at all times. Therefore, make it a habit of seeking out regular Internet access on your trips. This should not be very difficult these days since most in the travel industry recognize Internet access as a basic tourism/travel-related service.
Use good, official government web sites for accurate information when you are away from home. Most governments provide a travel advisory web site to their citizens informed on travel, safety and health issues. For US citizens it is http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html, for UK citizens it is http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/travel-advice-by-country. Find out your government travel advisory web site before you leave home.
Find a reliable news web site like the BBC or CNN and scan the headlines for the region you are in every time you are online. This way you can stay updated on anything to look out for. You would be surprised how quickly things can develop and political climate can change. I was traveling in Asia in 2003 during the SARS outbreak. The BBC News Asia section was a vital source of up-to-the-minute information for me.
Be as hygiene-conscious as possible and take as many precautions as you can. While traveling, you should keep an antibacterial soap and antibacterial gel on your person at all times. Buy several of these in travel-size before you leave home. Then wash your hands often. This should be a matter of course but its especially vital if you are in the area of an outbreak. Don’t fail to wash your hands before eating and whenever you return to your accommodation.
If an outbreak is happening on an international scale, which many sickness do these days due to our mobile lifestyles, the World Health Organization (WHO) will be involved. They usually provide accurate information on the scale of the outbreak as well as advice on traveling into any infected regions.
Finally, don’t take anything for granted. Often the young and fit convince themselves that nothing can happen to them. Take advisories seriously and protect yourself. Better yet, always be willing to leave a country or area quickly upon hearing that about any outbreaks, before there is a chance for you to be infected.