High quality information about health risks will help you to make good choices while you travel. But with a whole internet of information out there, it can be difficult to know where to turn. Let us tell you about some of the best sources of travel health information.
Face to face
If you are concerned about your ability to manage a health condition then you should speak first of all to your normal healthcare provider. You could also visit a pharmacy and ask for advice about basic self-care for many minor illnesses.
The specialist travel nurses at Canadian Travel Clinics can also answer questions on topics like sun safety, accident prevention and food and water safety. They will have access to the latest information about disease outbreaks and other health risks. Jot down your questions before your appointment at our travel clinics in Fort McMurray, Medicine Hat, Okotoks, Red Deer, Calgary and Edmonton.
My Health Alberta
My Health Alberta is the Government of Alberta’s resource for non-emergency health information.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a US organization that aims to protect the USA from health threats. CDC maintains an authoritative site for travellers with plenty of advice and tips.
Government of Canada
The Government of Canada’s website is a good resource for Canadian travellers. One of the most useful sections is the Travel advisories. This features information about security at your destination, entry and exit requirements, culture and laws, natural hazards and health restrictions.
The Travel health and safety page offers a collection of articles providing advice on topics such as travel shots and how to access healthcare abroad,
The Government of Canada’s site hosts The Public Health Agency of Canada’s Travel health notices. This list is regularly updated and can help you assess the risks at your destination. The individual articles include ways to reduce your chances of being exposed to the disease in question.
The World Health Organization
The United Nations agency the World Health Organization (WHO) is concerned with public health. It maintains an extensive website full of information aimed at both the public and healthcare professionals. One of its most useful resources for travellers is the Disease Outbreak News, which travellers can use to quickly check what’s going on at their destination. WHO also has some useful factsheets which provide more details about certain conditions.
Sources to avoid
It is better not to rely on advice from user-generated content. This includes message board posts and personal blogs. This information may be useful as a jumping-off point, but always compare it to authoritative, trustworthy sites managed by healthcare professionals.
The situation on the ground can change very quickly, so make sure your advice is up-to-date. Many sites date their pages, but if the site you are relying on does not, look elsewhere before you make a decision based on the information.