In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at the 14 most common diseases to watch out for when traveling abroad. You can dive into our articles that go deeper into each disease and offer travel advice for each after reading this one. Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n\n
Dengue Fever<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n![\"Close](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Most-Common-Diseases-When-Traveling-Abroad-Dengue-Fever.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Dengue Fever is a virus that\u2019s spread by mosquitoes and is present in many areas of the world. There is currently no vaccine or treatment available, so your only way of protecting yourself from dengue fever while traveling<\/a> is to cover bare skin and apply insect repellent to deter mosquitoes.<\/p>\nThe species of mosquito that causes dengue fever, Aedes aegypti, bites during the day. The dengue virus causes flu-like symptoms that can take up to 14 days to develop and usually last for around a week, including:<\/p>\n
\n- Fever<\/li>\n
- Headache<\/li>\n
- Nausea<\/li>\n
- Vomiting<\/li>\n
- Eye, muscle, and joint pain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Note that there are four serotypes of the virus, which are all present globally. Even though infection can help you become immune to that type later on, infection with other serotypes can result in more severe symptoms than the initial exposure (e.g. Dengue hemorrhagic fever).<\/p>\n
Yellow Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Yellow](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Most-Common-Diseases-When-Traveling-Abroad-Yellow-Fever.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can cause even more issues with the yellow fever virus, which is called that since a person can become jaundiced (or \u201cyellow\u201d) upon infection. Other yellow fever symptoms include chills, fever, headache, backache, and muscle aches.<\/p>\n
A fraction of those infected develops a serious illness that can cause shock, bleeding, organ failure, and even death. The WHO estimates 200,000 cases of yellow fever annually<\/a>, with the majority of them occurring in Africa. There is no treatment for the virus, making vaccines essential for protection.<\/p>\nTravelers must receive a vaccine a minimum of 30 days before travel to get lifelong protection against yellow fever. Seasoned travelers are familiar with having to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination in certain countries to help prevent the disease from entering or spreading in the country.<\/p>\n
Chikungunya<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Close](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Most-Common-Diseases-When-Traveling-Abroad-Chikungunya.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Yet another mosquito-related disease on this list is chikungunya, a viral illness that spreads to humans via an infected mosquito bite. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on a person who already has the virus, and can continue to spread the virus to others through bites – day or night.<\/p>\n
Since vaccines or medicines are available, travelers must protect themselves against chikungunya by covering up and using insect repellent. Chikungunya symptoms typically start 3 to 7 days after an infected mosquito bite, with the most common being fever and joint pain. Other symptoms include:<\/p>\n
\n- Muscle pain<\/li>\n
- Headache<\/li>\n
- Rash<\/li>\n
- Joint swelling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
While the majority of people feel better within 7 days, some people can experience ongoing joint pain for months. The mosquitoes that spread this virus are found globally, with countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans islands putting travelers at risk of infection.<\/p>\n
Zika Virus<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n![\"Close](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Most-Common-Diseases-When-Traveling-Abroad-Zika-Virus.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re traveling to an area with moist, warm climates then one common disease you want to be aware of is the Zika virus. The Zika virus is spread mainly through a bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (i.e. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), which can occur throughout the day and night.<\/p>\n
Many people with the Zika virus won\u2019t display any symptoms or only mild ones. Common symptoms of Zika include rash, headache, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, and conjunctivitis. What\u2019s more, the virus can spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus, and potentially cause certain birth defects.<\/p>\n
Consequently, pregnant women are advised against traveling to areas with Zika outbreaks<\/a>. Since no vaccine is currently available, the best way to prevent Zika while traveling<\/a> is to protect yourself from mosquito bites, such as by using insect repellent and wearing long loose clothing.<\/p>\nRabies<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n![\"Stray](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Most-Common-Diseases-When-Traveling-Abroad-Rabies.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Rabies is a serious virus that spreads to humans through infected animal saliva, typically from an animal bite or scratch. Most humans get rabies from dogs, though monkeys, cats, and bats can also spread the virus. Rabies symptoms usually appear around 3 to 10 weeks after exposure.<\/p>\n
There is no specific treatment available for rabies once symptoms occur. That means the disease is usually fatal for those who experience symptoms. Headaches, fever, and pain\/numbness at the bite site are early symptoms, which can progress into muscle spasms, hallucinations, paralysis, and more.<\/p>\n
The viral infection affects the brain and spinal cord, making it crucial to get a course of rabies vaccinations before traveling<\/a> to areas where rabies is considered a risk. Antarctica is the only continent in the world where rabies isn\u2019t present, while Asia and Africa have the most human cases.<\/p>\nTyphoid Fever<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n![\"Handheld](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Most-Common-Diseases-When-Traveling-Abroad-Typhoid-Fever.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
This bacterial infection spreads through contaminated water and food and can cause life-threatening fever. Travelers have a higher risk of contracting typhoid fever<\/a> in South Asia, though the disease is also present in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean.<\/p>\nHigh fevers, headaches, stomach pains, weakness, and loss of appetite are common symptoms at the start. Travelers are advised to get vaccinated before heading abroad. However, the vaccine only protects up to 80% of recipients so it\u2019s best to be careful about the food and drink you consume.<\/p>\n
Note that while antibiotics can be used to treat typhoid fever, drug-resistant bacteria are starting to emerge. Your best bet is to drink bottled water only and avoid street food, ice in drinks, and unpeeled fruits and vegetables – as yummy as they may look!<\/p>\n
Hepatitis A<\/strong><\/h3>\n![\"Close](\"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/Most-Common-Diseases-When-Traveling-Abroad-Hepatitis-A.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Hepatitis A is found in most of the developing world. Even though the Hepatitis virus comes in several forms (i.e. A, B, C, and D), Hepatitis A is especially vital for travelers to be aware of since it spreads through uncooked food and contaminated water.<\/p>\n
In fact, Hepatitis A is one of the most common causes of foodborne infections. The most common symptoms of Hepatitis A include:<\/p>\n
\n- Fever<\/li>\n
- Diarrhea<\/li>\n
- Nausea<\/li>\n
- Loss of appetite<\/li>\n
- Malaise<\/li>\n
- Abdominal discomfort<\/li>\n
- Dark-colored urine<\/li>\n
- Jaundice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There is no treatment for Hepatitis A, which affects up to 1.5 million people annually<\/a>. Fortunately, vaccines for the virus are safe and effective – and highly advisable for most travelers. It\u2019s wise to make smart food and beverage choices to avoid potential liver disease or severe illness.<\/p>\n\n
<\/p>\nThe species of mosquito that causes dengue fever, Aedes aegypti, bites during the day. The dengue virus causes flu-like symptoms that can take up to 14 days to develop and usually last for around a week, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Fever<\/li>\n
- Headache<\/li>\n
- Nausea<\/li>\n
- Vomiting<\/li>\n
- Eye, muscle, and joint pain<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Note that there are four serotypes of the virus, which are all present globally. Even though infection can help you become immune to that type later on, infection with other serotypes can result in more severe symptoms than the initial exposure (e.g. Dengue hemorrhagic fever).<\/p>\n
Yellow Fever<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nThe Aedes aegypti mosquitoes can cause even more issues with the yellow fever virus, which is called that since a person can become jaundiced (or \u201cyellow\u201d) upon infection. Other yellow fever symptoms include chills, fever, headache, backache, and muscle aches.<\/p>\n
A fraction of those infected develops a serious illness that can cause shock, bleeding, organ failure, and even death. The WHO estimates 200,000 cases of yellow fever annually<\/a>, with the majority of them occurring in Africa. There is no treatment for the virus, making vaccines essential for protection.<\/p>\n
Travelers must receive a vaccine a minimum of 30 days before travel to get lifelong protection against yellow fever. Seasoned travelers are familiar with having to provide proof of yellow fever vaccination in certain countries to help prevent the disease from entering or spreading in the country.<\/p>\n
Chikungunya<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nYet another mosquito-related disease on this list is chikungunya, a viral illness that spreads to humans via an infected mosquito bite. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on a person who already has the virus, and can continue to spread the virus to others through bites – day or night.<\/p>\n
Since vaccines or medicines are available, travelers must protect themselves against chikungunya by covering up and using insect repellent. Chikungunya symptoms typically start 3 to 7 days after an infected mosquito bite, with the most common being fever and joint pain. Other symptoms include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Muscle pain<\/li>\n
- Headache<\/li>\n
- Rash<\/li>\n
- Joint swelling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
While the majority of people feel better within 7 days, some people can experience ongoing joint pain for months. The mosquitoes that spread this virus are found globally, with countries in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Indian and Pacific Oceans islands putting travelers at risk of infection.<\/p>\n
Zika Virus<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nIf you\u2019re traveling to an area with moist, warm climates then one common disease you want to be aware of is the Zika virus. The Zika virus is spread mainly through a bite of an infected Aedes species mosquito (i.e. Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus), which can occur throughout the day and night.<\/p>\n
Many people with the Zika virus won\u2019t display any symptoms or only mild ones. Common symptoms of Zika include rash, headache, fever, joint pain, muscle pain, and conjunctivitis. What\u2019s more, the virus can spread from a pregnant woman to her fetus, and potentially cause certain birth defects.<\/p>\n
Consequently, pregnant women are advised against traveling to areas with Zika outbreaks<\/a>. Since no vaccine is currently available, the best way to prevent Zika while traveling<\/a> is to protect yourself from mosquito bites, such as by using insect repellent and wearing long loose clothing.<\/p>\n
Rabies<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nRabies is a serious virus that spreads to humans through infected animal saliva, typically from an animal bite or scratch. Most humans get rabies from dogs, though monkeys, cats, and bats can also spread the virus. Rabies symptoms usually appear around 3 to 10 weeks after exposure.<\/p>\n
There is no specific treatment available for rabies once symptoms occur. That means the disease is usually fatal for those who experience symptoms. Headaches, fever, and pain\/numbness at the bite site are early symptoms, which can progress into muscle spasms, hallucinations, paralysis, and more.<\/p>\n
The viral infection affects the brain and spinal cord, making it crucial to get a course of rabies vaccinations before traveling<\/a> to areas where rabies is considered a risk. Antarctica is the only continent in the world where rabies isn\u2019t present, while Asia and Africa have the most human cases.<\/p>\n
Typhoid Fever<\/strong><\/a><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nThis bacterial infection spreads through contaminated water and food and can cause life-threatening fever. Travelers have a higher risk of contracting typhoid fever<\/a> in South Asia, though the disease is also present in Asia, Africa, the Americas, and the Caribbean.<\/p>\n
High fevers, headaches, stomach pains, weakness, and loss of appetite are common symptoms at the start. Travelers are advised to get vaccinated before heading abroad. However, the vaccine only protects up to 80% of recipients so it\u2019s best to be careful about the food and drink you consume.<\/p>\n
Note that while antibiotics can be used to treat typhoid fever, drug-resistant bacteria are starting to emerge. Your best bet is to drink bottled water only and avoid street food, ice in drinks, and unpeeled fruits and vegetables – as yummy as they may look!<\/p>\n
Hepatitis A<\/strong><\/h3>\n
<\/p>\nHepatitis A is found in most of the developing world. Even though the Hepatitis virus comes in several forms (i.e. A, B, C, and D), Hepatitis A is especially vital for travelers to be aware of since it spreads through uncooked food and contaminated water.<\/p>\n
In fact, Hepatitis A is one of the most common causes of foodborne infections. The most common symptoms of Hepatitis A include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Fever<\/li>\n
- Diarrhea<\/li>\n
- Nausea<\/li>\n
- Loss of appetite<\/li>\n
- Malaise<\/li>\n
- Abdominal discomfort<\/li>\n
- Dark-colored urine<\/li>\n
- Jaundice<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
There is no treatment for Hepatitis A, which affects up to 1.5 million people annually<\/a>. Fortunately, vaccines for the virus are safe and effective – and highly advisable for most travelers. It\u2019s wise to make smart food and beverage choices to avoid potential liver disease or severe illness.<\/p>\n
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