Frequent travelers? How to avoid the flu
- Influenza as an infectious disease
Influenza is an infectious disease with a global distribution and a significant annual impact on the epidemiology of the community. It is distinguished in forms A and B with practically identical manifestations in terms of clinical symptoms, possible complications, mode of transmission and preventive measures that must be taken.
Influenza, unlike other infectious diseases, concerns us every year in the form of smaller or larger epidemics during the winter months and, more rarely, pandemics.
- Influenza Epidemiology and Travelers
With the exception of pandemic influenza, such as the California influenza A (H1N1) strain in the summer of 2009, the risk of exposure to travelers is largely related to the time of year. Specifically, for the northern hemisphere, the influenza season includes the period from late October to April.
In contrast, for the southern hemisphere, it is from April to September, while in tropical regions, influenza activity extends throughout the year.
It is clear that travelers are exposed to influenza virus infection throughout the year, especially when participating in mass tours or conferences with multinational participation, because the virus may already be circulating widely in the country of an individual or many participants.
Of course, the same can happen in the case of long-term intercontinental air travel with fellow travelers from countries in different hemispheres.
- Travel and influenza vaccination
It is known, from epidemiological studies, that the best protection is provided by the influenza vaccine that is valid for the specific period of the year.
It should be noted here that the vaccine in use in the northern hemisphere is, as a rule, also effective in countries in the southern hemisphere due to the circulation of the same virus strains in different geographical regions. It is important to note that it takes two weeks from the time of vaccination until a protective antibody titer is reached.
- Travel and repeat influenza vaccination
Because modern needs are associated with travel throughout the year, the feasibility of revaccination has been discussed. However, the existing scientific data do not support this view and the next influenza vaccination should be with the vaccine that will be valid for the next influenza season.
However, the following still apply:
a) strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene,
b) avoiding travel when symptoms of illness have already appeared, such as e.g. fever, headache, cough, nasopharyngitis, myalgia, pharyngalgia,
c) stay at home for 24 hours after the fever has subsided.
- Travel preparation and influenza
It is essential before the trip and during the preparation phase to have valid information about influenza activity in the area we are going to visit. We can obtain information online from the National Public Health Organization (https://eody.gov.gr/) as well as from international organizations, such as the Center for Disease Control of the United States (www.cdc.gov/traveler), from the European Center for Disease Control (www.ecdc.eu/traveler), from the World Health Organization (www.who.Int/traveler).
During our stay in our destination country, the following should be followed instructions:
a) to monitor the announcements of the authorities on health issues and the development of any epidemic
b) washing hands thoroughly with soap and water after coughing or sneezing
c) using an antiseptic hand solution based on 60% alcohol
d) covering the mouth and nose area with a disposable tissue when coughing and sneezing and discarding it in a suitable basket. In the absence of such, coughing and sneezing should be done on the inside of our elbow,
e) avoiding contact with patients
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