Disease, Schmisease: Why You Need Travel Medical Insurance to Visit Even Developed Countries
People who travel to third-world countries are likelier to purchase international travel health insurance than those visiting developed countries. And rightly so. However, even if you are traveling to a country with a McDonalds and a public transit system, you should still opt for international travel medical insurance coverage. From cholera to syphilis, the international traveler is vulnerable to all kinds of maladies.
Are you taking a trip for spring break? You won’t be the only one. Nevertheless, beware! Just because thousands more are there with you having a good time in Acapulco doesn’t mean that you won’t have to worry about Gnathostomiasis (roundworm.) Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (which causes skin lesions) and West Nile virus can also be found in Central America. That’s not to mention travelers’ diarrhea, which can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Stay safe by being careful about what you eat and drink and where you swim; also watch out for bugs.
Maybe your trip will be a more studious affair. How would you like to explore the ruins of Machu Picchu? That would be great, but if you wish to venture farther away from the standard tourist path, bring a mosquito net; there’s malaria out there! Yellow fever and Cutaneous Leishmaniasis can be found in the Peruvian jungles, too. Even if you stick with the tour group, Cuzco sits at an elevation of 11,203 feet above sea level. Be prepared to deal with a case of Acute Mountain Sickness.
How about a European urban adventure? Be careful of the water in Russia; it can give you cholera. And there’s that cutaneous leishmaniasis again; it’s been found in Spain. In the United Kingdom, you might want to be aware of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease; it’s like mad cow, but for people. Tickborne encephalitis and measles are a concern throughout the continent. The dreaded bird flu, H5N1, has been documented in several European countries.
Maybe you’re one of the many people traveling to China for business reasons. Be sure to see some of the sights while you’re there. But watch out for dengue, Japanese encephalitis, and hand foot and mouth disease. Also be aware of the hazards posed by the air pollution, which can aggravate any respiratory conditions you have. When the work is done, keep this in mind: sexually-transmitted diseases (including syphilis, HIV, gonorrhea, and Chlamydia) are a growing problem in China.
India has its share of diseases, including rabies. It’s important to know how you’re covered medically while you’re there. Did you know that you won’t be able to find human rabies immune globulin very easily? If infected, you will likely need a medical evacuation from the country to get treatment.
I know, I know, now you probably want to just stay home in the good old U.S. of A., where it’s safe (where you will find Cryptosporidiosis, Lyme disease, West Nile virus, Coccidioidomycosis, Histoplasmosis…). I didn’t mean to scare you out of your trip. You’ll be fine! Just make sure you’re properly covered.
