Travel health

It is important to have a plan when travelling outside of Canada. Know where you are going and how long you will stay so that you are aware of the proper precautions to take. Standards of living, including accessibility to proper health care and treatment varies greatly outside of Canada. Take all preventative measures and precautions seriously when travelling abroad.

Immunizations

If you reside in Greater Sudbury, please contact your health care provider or the Northeast Ontario Medical Offices for international travel immunization consultation services. For those residing outside of Greater Sudbury, please contact Public Health Sudbury & Districts Immunization Services Line at 705-522-9200 ext. 458 or your primary care provider. For information regarding publicly-funded vaccine eligibility, visit our online vaccination record portal to access/report vaccination records or call 705-522-9200 ext. 458.

Information regarding travel-related diseases and immunization of travellers is also available from the Travel Health program of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) travel.gc.ca/travelling/advisories

Food and water precautions

Related illnesses:

• hepatitis A
• travellers’ diarrhea
• typhoid

Best practices:

Food

• Wash your hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food.
• Never eat raw shellfish.
• Avoid unpasteurized milk products.
• Cook or bake fruit and vegetables that cannot be peeled or washed.
• Peel fruit yourself before eating.
• Avoid food served at room temperature
• Eat hot food while it is hot.
• Ensure food is well cooked.
• A good rule to follow: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

Water

• Drink boiled water, commercially bottled water, or carbonated beverages.
• Make sure the seals on the bottles are not broken.
• Use ice cubes made from disinfected water.
• Brush teeth with bottled water.
• Wash food with bottled water.
• Unclean water can make you sick if you swallow (or inhale it) while bathing, showering or swimming. Try not to get any water in your nose or mouth.

Insect precautions

Insect bite prevention will help protect you from many possible insect-related illnesses such as:

• West Nile virus
• dengue fever
• yellow fever
• Japanese encephalitis
• Lyme disease
• malaria

Alcohol consumption

Alcohol misuse can ruin your vacation. Injuries, illness, violence, legal issues and unplanned intercourse can significantly change your plans. Follow the low-risk alcohol drinking guidelines and avoid binge drinking while on vacation or travelling. Remember in many countries the laws surrounding alcohol and drug use may be different than those in Canada. Learn local restrictions regarding alcohol and drug use and respect the law.

Safe sex

Bring condoms with you when travelling and use them every time. Don’t rely on being able to purchase condoms; condoms vary around the world, as does the ability to purchase them. Women should bring enough birth control to ensure that they are protected for the duration of the trip. Safe sex involves more than using condoms and birth control. Make smart decisions about your sexual encounters.

Hand hygiene

Proper handwashing is the best defence against becoming ill or spreading illness. If soap and water are not available to wash your hands, use an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. If your hands are visibly soiled, use moist towelettes to remove the dirt, then use hand sanitizer.

---

This item was last modified on November 8, 2024