Vacations are meant to be a time for relaxation and comfort, but no matter where you decide to travel it’s important to consider the risks of contracting an illness.
According to St. Elizabeth’s travel health, a lot of the symptoms that people contract are very common.
“Some sickness, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea … that sort of thing,” says Dr. Patrick Kunkler.
Lately, it seems like bug bites (namely mosquito bites) have become a common concern for travelers.
“There’s a lot of dengue going around, which is similar to the Zika, only you feel worse and people can die from it,” says Dr. Kunkler.
In order to reduce the risks of any kind of travel-related illness, the travel team tells Local 12’s Liz Bonis to consider your destination and itinerary.
Click here to watch the segment on Local 12.
With a few precautions, such as advanced vaccination, most travelers’ concerns also can be taken care of before they leave Northern Kentucky.
When it comes to traveling outside the United States, the typhoid protection is strongly recommended, along with a vaccine against Hepatitis A. Both can be developed from bacteria or bad food.
The type of insect repellent used also makes a difference from not only mosquito related illnesses, but other insects as well.
“If you go to Central or South America, sometimes you can get bot flies. They worm under your skin and you have to remove those,” says Kunkler.
To learn more, click here to watch the segment on Local 12 or click here to read more about what you can do to protect yourself before you travel.