“But I’m not going to get sick.”

A new study shows that travellers who skip recommended immunizations are bringing back unwanted souvenirs. While no one plans to catch a serious illness while on vacation, travellers should be doing more to prevent it. Despite the warnings many people are still ignoring the risks.

A recent article in BBC News reveals some starting figures: More and more travellers are bringing back vaccine-preventable illnesses from their travels. For example, typhoid has recently emerged in the UK with 248 cases appearing in 2006 – half of which travellers acquired abroad (and could have been prevented).

If these illnesses are preventable, why are they still occurring? The numbers show a lack of knowledge. A recent survey reveals that many people aren’t aware of what illnesses are preventable. For instance, two thirds of respondents did not know typhoid was preventable with a vaccine, while about 40% incorrectly thought there was a vaccine for malaria.

The key to healthy travel is education. Find out what vaccines are recommended for your destination and take them. Links to vaccine resources and can be found in the “Immunization” section of our country advice pages.