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Heading to the Olympics?
01/07/2008 09:00 - (SA)
New York - If you're heading to the
Beijing Olympics, you should worry less about catching an
exotic disease and more about bronchitis and dog bites,
according to a report in the American Journal of Tropical
Medicine and Hygiene.
Dog bites, respiratory infections and diarrhoea have been
some of the biggest health threats to travellers to China in the
past 10 years, says an international research team that
examined surveillance data collected from travel and
tropical-medicine clinics worldwide.
Relatively minor injuries, like muscle strains and joint
sprains, have also been common among visitors to China -
possibly related to relatively low construction and safety
standards in some public places, according to the researchers,
led by Dr Nina Marano, of the US Centre for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC).
On the other hand, she and her colleagues found, only
rarely have travellers become infected with a tropical or
parasitic disease.
"Many international travellers worry about exotic diseases,"
Marano said in a statement issued by the CDC. "They probably
don't think about injuries or dog bites, but the study found
that travellers to China sought treatment for these ailments
more often."
"Travellers need to be cautious about dog bites," Marano
added, "as China has the second highest rate of human rabies
cases in the world."
According to the CDC, travellers can help ensure a safe trip
by taking some precautions. This includes making sure all
vaccinations are up-to-date and visiting a travel-medicine
clinic to get some professional advice before the trip.
While in China, the CDC says, travellers should "avoid all
animals". Anyone who is bitten by an animal should wash the
wound promptly and seek reliable medical care.
The agency also encourages travellers to wash their hands
frequently to lessen the risk of contracting a respiratory or
gastrointestinal infection.
To further cut the risk of diarrhoeal illnesses, travellers should also eat only fully cooked, hot meals, and fruits and vegetables that they wash and peel themselves.
To ward off injuries, the CDC recommends wearing
comfortable walking shoes and taking care when crossing streets
and using public transportation.
"We hope travellers take this information and use it to
prepare themselves for a healthy trip," Marano said.
"Using common sense while in Beijing can also help keep you
healthy," she added. "Wash your hands, watch your step, and
don't pet stray dogs."
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