International Travel Is Safe—If You Prepare: Dr. George Abraham Shares Practical Travel Health Advice

Food and Water Safety Still Matter

“My general dictum, when I run an international travel clinic in my office, is avoid anything that’s raw or fresh. Eat everything that’s cooked.”

By-Hank Stolz

Photo of Worcester-Kill the Ball Media, Photo of Dr. Abraham-submitted

WORCESTER, MA-As summer vacation season gets underway, many travelers are preparing for trips around the world. While international travel remains remarkably safe for most people, a little preparation can significantly reduce the risk of illness.

Dr. George Abraham, Chief of Medicine at Saint Vincent Hospital and a physician board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease, recently joined Radio Worcester to discuss how travelers can protect themselves while still enjoying the benefits of seeing the world.

His message was reassuring: travel shouldn’t be feared—but it should be respected.

Food and Water Safety Still Matter

One of Dr. Abraham’s strongest recommendations centered on food safety, particularly when traveling in developing countries.

“My general dictum, when I run an international travel clinic in my office, is avoid anything that’s raw or fresh. Eat everything that’s cooked.”

Fresh fruits deserve extra attention as well.

“If you eat a fruit, generally eat a fruit that you can peel yourself. If not, cut it yourself because you don’t know whether the knife has been washed or not.”

He also recommends avoiding ice in beverages.

“You can have a chilled drink, but no ice in your drink because you don’t know from which water the ice has been made.”

These simple habits can greatly reduce exposure to bacteria, parasites, and viruses that cause gastrointestinal illness.

Vaccines Are One of Your Best Defenses

Travelers should schedule a medical consultation several weeks before departure, especially if visiting developing regions.

Depending on the destination, physicians may recommend:

• Hepatitis A vaccination
• Yellow fever vaccination
• Routine immunizations
• Malaria prevention medication

For much of Europe, however, standard vaccinations are generally sufficient, with no special travel vaccines required beyond routine food and water precautions.

Cruise Ships Carry Different Risks

Cruise vacations present their own unique health challenges.

Because thousands of passengers live in close quarters, viruses such as norovirus can spread rapidly if introduced onboard.

Frequent hand washing and careful hygiene remain among the best preventive measures during cruise travel.

Vaccine Hesitancy Is a Greater Concern at Home

Interestingly, Dr. Abraham noted that many Americans worry about contracting rare tropical diseases while traveling, when the larger public health concern is often much closer to home.

He explained that recent measles outbreaks in the United States are primarily driven by declining vaccination rates rather than international travel.

Meanwhile, diseases like Ebola receive significant media attention but pose extremely little risk to most travelers because transmission requires direct contact with infected bodily fluids.

Don’t Ignore Illness After Returning Home

Travel-related illnesses don’t always appear immediately.

If symptoms develop within days—or even weeks—after returning home, travelers should seek medical evaluation and tell their healthcare provider exactly where they traveled.

Certain infections, including malaria, typhoid fever, and tuberculosis, may not become apparent until well after the trip has ended.

Preparing Before You Leave Makes All the Difference

Dr. Abraham encourages travelers to plan ahead rather than worry.

Simple steps—including scheduling recommended vaccinations, practicing good hand hygiene, making smart food and water choices, considering travel insurance, and understanding destination-specific health risks—allow most people to travel confidently and safely.

His overall message is one of preparation, not fear: with thoughtful planning, international travel remains one of life’s most rewarding experiences.