Page 57 - DreamScapes Magazine | Winter/Spring 2026

PHOTOS: TE LENSFIX/PEXELS | TRAVEL AI/PIXABAY
S P E C I A L F E A T U R E R E P O R T
Staying Healthy on
Your Tropical Escape
A FEW STRAIGHTFORWARD PRECAUTIONS CAN PREVENT STOMACH
TROUBLES, MOSQUITO-BORNE DISEASES, AND OTHER HEALTH ISSUES
BY ADAM BISBY
Whether you’re drawn to
turquoise waters, vibrant cul-
ture or simple relaxation, a
little preparation can help
ensure a tropical trip remains focused
on adventure and enjoyment—not
health problems. With a few straight-
forward precautions, staying healthy
abroad is easier than you might think.
Keeping Stomach
Troubles at Bay
Few things derail a vacation faster than
digestive issues. According to the U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Pre-
vention (CDC), 30 to 70 percent of
international travellers experience
diarrhea caused by food or water con-
tamination. Popular destinations such
as Mexico and the Dominican
Republic—beautiful as they are—carry
higher risks for these illnesses, even
within resorts, explains Dr. Suleiman
Furmli, a clinical physician at the Uni-
versal Travel Health Clinic in Ajax,
Ontario.
“The three most common types of
bugs that cause diarrhea in travellers
are bacteria, followed by viruses and
then parasites,” Dr. Furmli says and
adds, “Enterotoxigenic E. coli is the
most common bacterial cause.” An
oral vaccine, DUKORAL, he notes can
help prevent diarrhea caused by
cholera and a particular toxin-pro-
ducing strain of bacteria. “It’s also
important to wash your hands before
eating or preparing food and to take
the necessary food and water precau-
tions,” he advises.
DID YOU KNOW?
As well as being able to detect the
carbon dioxide in your breath from up
to 23 metres away, mosquitoes are
more attracted to dark colours. That’s
why wearing lighter clothes can help
you avoid them.