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Europe
For the most part, Europe doesn’t pose any serious health risks to the average visitor. Read on for some general tips on healthy dos and don’ts while visiting this charmed continent.
Enjoying your trip to its fullest always involves some amount of preparation and knowledge, so to make your planning easier we’ve put together some basic information outlining the general risks you might face in Europe. Consult the World Health Organization (WHO) or the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the most up-to-date information on current health risks, and ask your physician about the best courses of vaccinations for the area you’re visiting.
Food and Water:
Water is safe to drink in most parts of Europe. However, the water in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Monaco, Poland, Slovakia, and Turkey isn’t always potable. Moreover, never drink tap water in Russia or the Ukraine. In any case, it’s always best to stick to the bottled stuff. Never drink water from fresh streams, rivers, or lakes unless it’s been purified first (to learn more about purifying water, read our Food and Water Risks tip).
When in Cyprus and the Ukraine, only eat vegetables that have been cooked, fruits that have been peeled, and well-cooked meat and seafood. Although milk is pasteurized in Greece, refrigeration isn’t always up to par, especially in out-of-the-way places; you might want to take the same care with meat. In fact, it’s always a good idea to be mindful of meat wherever you are--make sure it’s well cooked and, preferably, served hot. Remember, too, that a change in diet sometimes brings about minor diarrhea, so bringing some anti-diarrhea medicine along might be a good idea.
Avoid raw fish and seafood. Note that freshwater fish from the Baltic Sea may contain tapeworm, which could wreak havoc on your digestive system; avoid eating fish from this water source.
Speaking of meat . . . With the advent of serious problems plaguing many countries’ cattle population, the carnivorous diet is of primary concern while on your European vacation. If you’re worried about mad cow’s disease, refrain from eating beef; England was one of the most seriously effected countries in the mid-1990s but the crisis has since diminished. While foot-and-mouth disease doesn’t harbor any effect on humans, humans can aid in the disease’s spread. Read our foot-and-mouth disease tip for further details.
The Elements:
The summer sun is lovely in Europe, but it can also be brutal--particularly on the Mediterranean coast. Protect your skin with sunscreen (at least 15 SPF) and clothing, and limit your exposure to the sun when you can. Make sure to drink plenty of water when out in the sunshine. Dehydration can put a damper on your day, so make sure that fluid intake more than makes up for fluid loss.
Health Risks:
Rabies is present all over the continent, so consider a vaccination before you go if you expect to be exposed to rabid animals. If you get bitten, seek medical attention immediately. Campers and trekkers should be mindful of ticks--these pinhead-shaped pests are often a problem in forested areas, particularly in summer. Tick bites can lead to Lyme disease when left untreated or unnoticed; read our Creepy, Crawly Critters tip to learn more. Immunization against tick-borne encephalitis is available, so if you fear exposure to ticks, you might want to consider getting vaccinated.
Visitors spending time in the great outdoors should also be mindful of hypothermia in more northern climes such as Iceland and Austria; make sure to dress extra warmly to combat the cold temperatures. Be mindful of altitude sickness in mountainous areas; to learn more about this malady, read our How to Avoid Altitude Sickness tip.
Visitors to Turkey should know that there’s a potential malaria risk in the southeast, as well as along the Black Sea coast. Consult your physician several months before your trip to determine the right course of medication for you. Also, check WHO’s malaria zone map to see which areas are at risk.
Immunization Suggestions and Requirements:
The following information was culled from reputable sources, such as CDC and WHO and reflects countries currently featured on Travelocity.com.
Health care standards are very high in Europe, and therefore the continent enjoys a lack of endemic diseases. Unless indicated below, you won’t need any vaccinations before visiting.
Belarus
- Typhoid, polio, diphtheria, hepatitis A
Bulgaria
- Tetanus, hepatitis A, typhoid, polio
Croatia
Cyprus
Estonia
Greece
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over six months old coming from infected areas
Hungary
Malta
- Cholera vaccination certificate may be required from travelers arriving from infected areas
Poland
Portugal
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travelers over one year old arriving in the Azores and Madeira, if coming from infected areas
Russia
- Diphtheria, hepatitis A, typhoid
- Visitors staying longer than three months must produce a certificate proving they are HIV-negative
Turkey
- Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, polio, tetanus, TB, diphtheria
Ukraine
- Diphtheria, cholera, hepatitis A
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