Food and Water

• This is the most common form of disease transmission for someone travelling to a new country. Travellers" diarrhea, hepatitis A, typhoid, polio and cholera can all be transmitted through contaminated food or water.
• Make sure your drinking water is purified. Carry waterless soap to wash your hands when soap and water are not available or the water is suspect.

• Food must be well cooked or washed and peeled.
• Hepatitis A is prevalent all over the world with the exception of Western Europe, Canada, United States of America, Australia and New Zealand.
• Typhoid fever is found in many parts of the world.
• Asia, the Middle East and most of Africa are high-risk areas for polio.

Insects

Malaria, dengue fever, West Nile disease, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis are all transmitted by infected mosquitoes. Most of these are found in tropical and developing countries although West Nile disease is also found in developed countries with temperate climates. The best protection against insect borne disease is insect repellent, protective clothing and sleeping under mosquito netting treated with repellent. South America, Africa, the Middle East, India and Southeast Asia are risk areas for malaria.

Insects

Contaminated needles, syringes, blood and unprotected sexual activities can all be the source of diseases such as Hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS. Avoid body piercing or tattooing.