Health Authorities Advise Visiting International Vaccination Centres Two Months Before Travelling
Exposure to mosquitoes, as well as contaminated water and food, are the main risks when travelling to exotic countries | The traveller's medicine unit at Alicante General Hospital serves 1,300 people annually
Pau Sellés
Alicante
Lunes, 9 de junio 2025, 12:50
Holidays to a foreign country can turn from a dream experience into a dramatic episode if the necessary precautions are not taken. The recent death of an Alicante resident from rabies after being bitten by a dog in an African country nearly a year ago highlights the dangers of travelling without heeding health recommendations.
In this regard, Health has specialised traveller's medicine units where users can get information and receive necessary vaccinations depending on the country they plan to visit. Alicante General Hospital hosts the International Vaccination Centre, which sees an average of 1,300 users annually.
With the summer period just around the corner, an increase in visits to this unit is expected. Therefore, the Health Department recommends scheduling an appointment one to two months in advance before embarking on a trip.
Appointments can be made by calling 965 933 346, Monday to Friday from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Priority is given to travel for work, cooperation, or family reunification over tourist trips. The service is provided by a multidisciplinary team of professionals, including preventive medicine doctors, nursing staff, assistants, and administrative personnel.

Most Visited Countries
The most visited countries by centre users in the past year were Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Completing the list of frequent destinations are Peru, Colombia, India, Kenya, and Tanzania.
Doctors Julio Barrenengoa and Manuel Valdivia, associates of the Preventive Medicine Service, emphasise that the two key risks in international travel are exposure to mosquitoes and exposure to contaminated water and food, with associated infection risks, mainly in tropical and subtropical regions.
Regarding mosquito bites, the most common risks include malaria and viruses such as dengue, Zika, chikungunya, yellow fever, and oropouche. "To prevent these, general protective measures against bites are recommended, such as using appropriate repellents, wearing clothing that covers most of the body (especially during peak mosquito activity hours), using mosquito nets, insecticides, or similar means," says Dr Barrenengoa.
What is the most common pathology?
Regarding exposure to contaminated water and food, Dr Valdivia states that "traveller's diarrhoea is the most common pathology, affecting up to 80% of tourists in high-risk destinations. It is usually self-limiting and lasts a few days. It is essential to avoid dehydration, especially in children, and to rehydrate with oral solutions containing the appropriate electrolytes. If diarrhoea lasts more than three days or presents with blood in stools, vomiting, or fever, medical assistance should be sought."
Other infectious diseases transmitted this way include cryptosporidiosis, cyclosporiasis, giardiasis, hepatitis A and E, shigellosis, listeriosis, campylobacteriosis, cholera, typhoid fever, and salmonellosis. To prevent these, hygiene in handling and consuming food and drinks must be maximised.
Some tropical diseases may manifest even several months after returning
Specialists remind that some tropical diseases may manifest even several months after returning. In case of symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, joint pain, or skin lesions, it is important to inform the doctor about travels made in the past year to tropical areas or developing countries.
Additionally, international travel should consider other risk factors such as solar radiation, heat and humidity, tick bites, or contact with animals, which can be vectors of infectious diseases, as well as health issues related to traffic.
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