Travel risks

Key factors in determining the risks to which a traveller may be exposed are:

• mode of transport
• destination(s)
• duration and season of travel
• purpose of travel
• standards of accommodation, food hygiene and sanitation
• behaviour of the traveller
• underlying health of the traveller.

Destinations where accommodation, hygiene and sanitation, medical care and water quality are of a high standard pose relatively few serious risks to the health of travellers, except those with pre-existing illness. The same is true of business travellers and tourists visiting most major cities and tourist centres and staying in good-quality accommodation. In contrast, destinations where accommodation is of poor quality, hygiene and sanitation are inadequate, medical services do not exist and clean water is unavailable may pose serious risks for the health of travellers. This applies, for example, to personnel from emergency relief and development agencies and to tourists who venture into remote areas. In these settings, stringent precautions must be taken to avoid illness. Travel warnings from governmental sources should be taken seriously; they are likely to have implications for travel and for travel insurance.

The epidemiology of infectious diseases in the destination country is of importance to travellers. Travellers and travel medicine practitioners should be aware of the occurrence of these diseases in the destination countries. Unforeseen natural or man-made disasters may occur; outbreaks of known or newly emerging infectious diseases are often unpredictable. New risks to international travellers may arise that are not detailed in this book but will be posted on the WHO web site ( which should be regularly consulted. Similarly, up-to-date information on safety and security risks should be acquired from authoritative web sites (

The mode of transport, duration of visit and the behaviour and lifestyle of the traveller are important in determining the likelihood of exposure to infectious diseases and will influence decisions on the need for certain vaccinations or antimalarial medication. The duration of visit may also determine whether the traveller is subjected to marked changes in altitude, temperature and humidity or to prolonged exposure to atmospheric pollution.