People visiting friends and relatives are the group most at risk of contracting diseases abroad. They are particularly in need of early and comprehensive professional advice.
This group tend to be migrants heading back to their country of origin. Though they are only 8% of the UK population, they account for 20% of visits abroad and 44% of visits to Africa.
Over 80% of the UK’s cases of P. falciparum malaria are in people who have been abroad to visit friends and relatives. Only 30% will have taken prophylaxis. Similarly, visitors to friends and relatives are 2.5 times more likely than other travellers to contract hepatitis B.
The risks are high because:
- people on visits back to a familiar environment do not appreciate the dangers
- many feel they are immune to local diseases – but often immunity has gone
- visitors to friends and relatives are more likely to stay in rural areas or conditions of poor sanitation
- they will often have prolonged contact with locals.
- often there are large gatherings such as weddings – with their attendant risks for infection
- the average stay is longer – 29 days, compared with 16 for other travellers
- only 18% seek travel health advice before departure.
Visitors to friends and relatives often hold different beliefs about health from other travellers
- different models of how diseases occur
- a feeling that diseases are predestined
- fear that those who access healthcare may come to the attention of authorities
- lack of perception of the benefits of advice and protection
There are a number of barriers to seeking travel health advice
- language
- accessibility
- attitudes of healthcare staff
- inappropriate medical materials
People who plan to visit friends or relatives are in particular need of travel health advice and should seek it well in advance of their visit. Those providing clinics should ensure they are accessible for this group of travellers.
Special needs
- Immunisation against diseases found in rural areas, such as tick-borne encephalitis or Japanese B encephalitis
- Water decontamination kits to cope with poor water quality
- First aid kits and sterile kits to cope with poor medical access
- Vaccination against influenza – the season in the Southern hemisphere runs from April to November
- Possibly tuberculosis immunisation
