Skip to content 
Valneva
Travel Bites for the Health-Wise
How to Travel Healthy and Worry-Free
By Linda Barnard
Mosquitoes are more than just a buzzing nuisance for sun-seeking travellers; they can carry viruses with serious health consequences, such as dengue fever, Zika virus, Japanese encephalitis, West Nile virus, and the growing threat of chikungunya.
The World Health Organization reports that tropical mosquito species known to transmit diseases, including chikungunya, are now spreading into North America. These mosquitoes have been found in the Southeastern United States, the Caribbean, Mexico, Southern Europe and Central America—places famous for the relaxing beaches, sightseeing and outdoor activities winter-weary Canadians crave.
Each year, an estimated seven million Canadians travel to countries where mosquito-borne diseases are prevalent. Health experts say prevention, including vaccination and the proper use of insect repellent, gives Canadian travellers the tools to tell mosquitoes to bug off while they enjoy their vacation.
Climate Change and Mosquito Spread
Mosquitoes are vectors for diseases, meaning they can transmit viruses from an infected person or animal to humans. Climate change has facilitated the spread of mosquitoes that were once limited to specific regions. Shifts in weather and temperature have allowed the Aedes aegypti mosquito, originally from Africa, and Aedes albopictus, from Southeast Asia, to expand into new areas.
Symptoms
Not all mosquitoes carry diseases, and many people who are bitten remain symptom-free. But the health consequences from infection can be serious. Barrie pharmacist and mosquito-borne disease expert Michael Boivin notes that symptoms can include severe headache, fever, rash and joint pain.
For chikungunya, Health Canada says symptoms typically come on quickly, although they can take up to 12 days to appear. They can include a sudden fever, headache, nausea, fatigue and rash. Severe, painful arthritis-like symptoms can also occur and last for several weeks, months or even years. There is no cure for chikungunya. “For some, it can be life-altering and life-changing,” Boivin says.
Make a Protection Plan
Insect repellent should be as essential to your travel kit as sunscreen. Health Canada-approved repellents containing DEET or icaridin (also known as picaridin) do more than prevent annoyingly itchy bites by helping you stay healthy while enjoying the outdoors. Boivin suggests incorporating repellent into your routine even when you’re not travelling. Make it a habit to use repellent outdoors during the summer, so it becomes second nature.
Both DEET and icaridin repellents work equally well, says Boivin; the key is the duration of protection, usually around eight hours, which is more important than the concentration level. Icaridin is safe for children as young as six months old. Apply repellent to exposed skin, avoiding the face, by spraying it onto your hands first, then patting it on. Wash your hands thoroughly after application. Reapply as needed and always apply sunscreen first, letting it dry before using repellent.
Not a fan of checked luggage? Travellers on team carry-on can opt for repellent wipes and towelettes or 100 ml or less bottles of repellent spray or lotion.
Staying Healthy
Before your next winter getaway, consult with your health-care provider, pharmacist, or visit a travel clinic to discuss protection measures against mosquito-borne diseases and available vaccines. For instance, there is a vaccine to help protect against Japanese encephalitis, which is found in parts of Asia and Oceania. There is also a vaccine to protect against Yellow Fever, which is found in Africa and South America.
Finally, Health Canada has recently approved a new single-dose vaccine for chikungunya virus. Chikungunya occurs primarily in Africa, Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Pacific Region, and tropical regions of the Americas, but outbreaks have occurred in other locations that have the mosquitoes that spread the virus (Aedes species). Speak with your health-care provider about these options if you’re travelling to areas where these mosquito-borne diseases are common.
Healthy Travel Tips
- Discuss prevention options with your health-care provider, including vaccination, at least 4–6 weeks before your departure.
- Apply insect repellent to exposed skin.
- Wear loose-fitting clothing with long sleeves and pants.
- Stay indoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active.
- Choose accommodations with air conditioning, doors and windows with screens; use a bed net if there is no AC.
- Contact your hotel or resort for information on local mosquito activity and protection advice before you travel.
Travel Planner
For additional information on mosquito-borne diseases and prevention, visit 110trillionreasons.ca
