Olympic Travel Health Concerns

(June 29, 2008) - If you're planning on going to the Olympics, and are concerned about your health, it would be best to worry about dog bites than some exotic disease. (Read about "Travel & Health") The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say travelers should focus on preventing more mundane health problems like respiratory illness (Read about "Respiratory System") and dog bites. A new study by experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network found that, during the past 10 years, dog bites were actually one of the more common health problems travelers face when visiting China. Other common ailments were respiratory infections, skin problems, injuries and diarrhea. (Read about "Skin" "Diarrhea")

"Many international travelers worry about exotic diseases. They probably don't think about injuries or dog bites, but the study found that travelers to China sought treatment for these ailments more often," said Dr. Nina Marano, chief of the CDC's Travelers' Health and Animal Importation Branch. "Travelers need to be cautious about dog bites, as China has the second highest rate of human rabies (Read about "Rabies") cases in the world."

Respiratory illnesses, such as asthma and bronchitis (Read about "Asthma" "Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease"), were the most common diagnoses for travelers seeking medical care while in China, and the primary cause of hospitalization for travelers in China. Acute diarrhea and dog bites were the most frequent ailments for travelers receiving post-travel medical care. Travelers also complained of injuries, like sprains and strains. (Read about "Sprains" "Strains") Rates of tropical and parasitic disease were low: there were no reported cases of malaria or dengue fever among travelers in a recent study.

"We hope travelers take this information and use it to prepare themselves for a healthy trip," said Dr. Marano. "Using common sense while in Beijing can also help keep you healthy. Wash your hands, watch your step and don't pet stray dogs."