Is overseas travel really worth the hassle of the illnesses you can catch?

I'm going overseas for my first time and i'm beginning to wonder why i'm going. Sure it will be fun to experience, but there are so many illnesses I can get. I've had many vaccinations, but you can still get tummy bugs and how do you know if the food is cooked properly etc. Am I just being overly paranoid? I don't want to be sick the entire time i'm there!

Public Comments

1. I never get sick and I go anywhere: China, Australia, Europe, south america....
2. Just get shots before you go if you're so scared.
3. Yes, you're being overly paranoid. I've traveled around Southeast Asia and parts of Central America, while never landing in a hospitial. Just make sure to have all your immunizations before you go. When you're abroad, drink lots of fluids and eat in restaurants with heavy traffic flow, since they are serving a lot of customers the chances of getting food poisining is highly unlikely. Always, always err on the side of caution and you will stay happy and healthy!
4. Depends were you go - you have had best medical advice for the country(ies) you are visiting and jabs. Also make sure your bottle(s) of water are sealed (and if you have ice check its made with bottled water). Check what emergency pharmacuticals you can take with you. As a precaution you can always carry a anti-germ spray or wipes for you hands before you eat. Currently in Egypt and the hotel has stopped serving chicken due to bird flu - but don't worry too much the experience of travelling and seeing other places, cultures and people, is always worth a bit of a 'jippy' tummy! Have fun & be safe ;-)
5. Traveling is really quite safe! Just be aware of your surroundings! I've traveled quite a bit and never been sick. There have been a few restaurants I've refused to eat at. (food sitting out with flies all around). At those restaurants, I only get a bag of chips or something else prepackaged. (Others did get sick eating there..hahaha!) The learning experience of going to another country can't be beat. Don't let Little things get in your way. It's much more dangerous to drive to the store! Read up on the country that you'll be visiting. Many websites will advise you of anything you need to be wary of! Enjoy your trip! Rexski http://www.FunOrBiz.GlobalTravel.com
6. its easy to catch illnesses but the best thing for you to do when you go out there is be careful because when one gets curious of something remember that killed a cat!watch what you eat,hygiene,and also if its coldy or hot just keep a rule in you ,when you go to rome do what the romans do!best of luck and have fun when you travel where you going?am in kenya
7. Yeah definitely. I've been abroad a lot, and I love travelling. Yeah, sure, I've got a bad stomach bug once or twice, but they only last a short time. Generally, it's traveller's gastroentiritis, which is simply where you aren't used to the germs in the area. There are germs in the water you drink at home, but you don't get sick because you're used to them. But when you travel, you aren't. Best advice, drink mineral water from bottles, and at restaurants and cafes, make sure they don't give you ice cubes, cos these are tap water.
8. You didn't mention where you are going specifically, so we can't give you advice about which foods to stay away from, etc. However, in general, if you eat in clean-looking places and drink bottled water, you'll be fine. I lived in Mexico City for several weeks during 2002, and I didn't catch "Montezuma's Revenge" the entire time I was there. Mostly I made sure that I ate in restaurants, not at stands on the street, and drank and brushed my teeth with bottled water. Also, vegetables can potentially get you sick because they are sometimes washed with the infected water. However, I was able to buy a little bottle of a disinfecting solution made out of silver. It was readily available in the produce section of a major store. I could soak the vegetables in water with a few drops of this solution in it and it would kill the bacteria on the outsides of the vegetables. Fruits aren't as much of a problem because you typically remove the peel and therefore get rid of the bacteria. If it's a fruit you don't peel you can use a solution like I just mentioned. Also, if you aren't sure whether the place you're at is using clean water, order your drink without ice, since the ice can be made with contaminated water as well. In Mexico City this isn't a problem, since basically all restaurants use ice made with potable water; I don't know how it is in other places. In fact, in our apartment we were able to buy big water-cooler-sized jugs of water for very cheap, the equivalent of just a couple of dollars, and the guy would carry it up the stairs for you and everything! Also, since you said you're going "overseas", you might want to learn a little bit about the bodies of water that are around that country and find out whether it's safe to eat fish from those locations. For example, it's generally not the greatest idea to eat fish out of the Mediterranean, I understand. Even if you do get sick (which you shouldn't if you take these precautions I've mentioned) you'll only be sick for a couple of days, so it won't ruin your entire trip. I think the benefits of travel greatly outweigh the potential for illness. I hope you have a wonderful trip!
9. get your shots and think smart about the food you eat. you can get sick in the states if you're not careful..so its everywhere, just not overseas that you have to use your head...and it depends on where you're going...the conditions here in Iraq can be alot worse than other places.. always drink bottled water...if you cannot, then make sure you boil the water and add de-salt it. don't be paranoid, but just think before you act. i would take a little bit of time to get familiar with the culture and customs of places you're going so you dont embarrass yourself..
10. The very worst part of Overseas Travel is the time you spend on the overseas flight. There is always someone with a Flu Bug or Virus on the plane and the Airlines specialize in circulating the air on the plane in a way that will spread those bugs to the maximum number of passengers. Two days after flying - 40% of the passengers are blowing their noses and coughing continuously. There are no shots you can take to prevent it - the only way to avoid it is to stop breathing while on an airplane.
11. The person who answered right before me is right. I got sick three times after a long flight oversea. In any case, it depends where you go. If you travel in developed countries you will be fine...you may catch a cold or something similar, because viruses are spread everywhere. But...I don't think you are completely paranoid. There are many countries, in fact, which have serious diseases. It's up to you what to do. And, talking about the first answer you get... Europe and Australia don't have many diseases. They are great places to go. What about some beautiful island, surrounded by the Ocean, as Haway and Fiji? I don't think they have many diseases there...but you'd better check!
12. You're thinking too much.I had typhoid in India,pneumonia in Pakistan,three weeks in hospital in China for a kidney operation, and dengue fever in Indonesia,but that was over a three year period.Sick only four times in three years isn't so bad,so stop worrying.
13. Don't go if you're so worried. There's plenty to do where you feel safe at home. Do you get sick at home? If so why are you worried about getting sick away from home. You didn't die and you coped so you'll be ok anywhere you go!