People who live in the United States but who visit family members living in other countries are more likely to become ill than other travelers, according to an article published in the Journal of Travel Medicine. These friends and family may require a medical repatriation if they experience an extreme medical event.
There are several reasons why, including longer duration of travel, closer and more familiar contact with people living in those countries, and a greater likelihood of eating food prepared at home by family members. In addition, visiting friends and relatives (VFR) travelers may be less likely to take precautions than other travelers because they feel more comfortable in their surroundings, or have less time to prepare because they are responding to family emergencies.
For these reasons, it is important for VFR travelers to take precautions against common illnesses associated with travel outside the United States. They should be sure they are up-to-date on all vaccinations, including tetanus and hepatitis, and take time to fill prescriptions they’ll need for or during the duration of their travel.
Travelers also should ask their doctors if they should be prescribed an antimalarial drug. This is important, because the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that some VFR travelers who develop malaria mistakenly believed that they are immune to the disease because they have spent considerable time in a country where malaria is prevalent. In fact, the CDC says that VFR travelers are eight to 10 times more likely to develop malaria than other travelers, and that several VFR travelers have died of malaria after returning to the United States.
Antimalarial medication should be started before a traveler leaves the United States. Some travelers wait to buy the medicine until they reach their destination because they think it will be less expensive outside the United States. However, counterfeit medicines are common in some countries and pose a risk to travelers.
Food- and water-borne illnesses are also a concern for VFR travelers because they are more likely to eat food at street-vendor stalls or cooked at their companions’ homes. They also are more likely to feel pressured to eat what those around them are eating. In general, VFR travelers should follow the same recommendations for eating and drinking as other travelers: only eat food that is served steaming hot: avoid food that has be allowed to sit and cool; drink only bottled water or other drinks from sealed containers; and eat only fruit and vegetables that can be peeled.
Travelers who have chronic medical conditions may find it difficult to manage illnesses, such as diabetes, because travel disrupts their medication schedules or they fail to pack enough medicine and supplies for the duration of their trip. According to one small study, 60 percent of VFR travelers admitted “non-adherence to one or more prescribed medications during travel.”
If Medical Repatriation is Necessary
Even if they are very familiar with the country they will be visiting, VFR travelers should take the time to talk to their doctor about any recommended vaccinations and medicines. Those with chronic medical conditions should discuss how to manage their illness while outside the United States and how much medicine they’ll need for the duration of their stay.
However, even well-prepared travelers may become ill or injured while traveling, and need medical repatriation to the United States for treatment or recovery. SentinelMED provides medical transport, medical repatriation, and medical escort services to help navigate the complexities of long-distance travel for sick or elderly patients.
The SentinelMED team can arrange door-to-door care and transportation for patients from discharge at a hospital or medical facility to a receiving health care facility, or to a family member who is able to assume their care. For patients who do not have a family member or friend to travel with them, a medical escort can make it possible to travel in comfort and arrive home safely.
The SentinelMED team understands the complexity of delivering exceptional care to patients who need assistance during travel. Please contact us to learn more about the services that SentinelMED offers or its staff.
