There is nothing more awe inspiring than being up close to mountain gorillas in their natural environment. I was fortunate enough to view a family of mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park in Uganda. We witnessed curious toddlers, a mother feeding her new baby, several adolescent gorillas and 3 silver backs. Being this up […]
Many of you will remember the old nursery rhyme “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.” Bed bugs were once a common occurrence throughout the world, but with use of insecticides bed bugs infestations declined in the 1940s. Bed bugs are not, however, just a thing of the past. There has been […]
Have you heard about Dukoral? It’s an oral vaccine that prevents traveller’s diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic coli (ETEC) and cholera. But what are cholera and ETEC? Are you at risk for these diseases? Keep reading to learn more about these diseases and if you need Dukoral on your next trip. Cholera Cholera is an infectious […]
Occasionally we are asked “Why do I need a pre-travel consultation?” There are many reasons why booking a pre-travel consultation is a good idea. Whether you’re travelling abroad for business or pleasure, you are likely to encounter health risks at your destination that are not a consideration in Canada. The pre-travel consultation is conducted by […]
Bottled water, filters, chemicals, boiling, UV lights – there are many options for accessing clean drinking water while travelling. But are all methods equally as effective? The answer is no! Below we will review the pros and cons of several options for clean water and disinfection methods. These tips are not only useful when travelling, […]
Unless you had a mother like mine who still has her paper vaccine records from the 1950’s, you may be at a loss of how to find out which vaccines you received as a child, or how to locate your records. There is no centralized database of immunization records in BC, so finding your vaccine […]
There are few things more dreadful than experiencing a bout of diarrhea while travelling abroad. The frequent trips to the bathroom, bloating, gas, and cramps are not the experiences people hope for when they are planning their travels. Fortunately for most, traveller’s diarrhea, while a literal pain in the butt, tends to only last a […]
Many Canadians travel to areas in the world where dengue fever is a risk. We are often asked at TravelSafe about the dengue fever vaccine in our clinic. Here’s everything you need to know about dengue fever and the vaccine to prevent it. What is dengue fever and how is it spread? Dengue fever is […]
As travel restrictions ease and countries begin opening their doors to tourists, many people are starting to plan their long-awaited getaways. Countries that rely on tourism were hard hit when the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, and the return to travel can begin to generate socioeconomic growth in countries that rely so heavily on tourism. […]
Whether you are setting out on a weeklong tropical vacation – or satisfying a travel craving with a six-month backpacking trip – packing essentials for any type of getaway can be daunting. Seasoned travellers will agree that the general goal is to take only the necessities and nothing more, but this can become tricky when […]