How to avoid illness traveling outside U.S.

By Raj Palraj, M.D. Dear Mayo Clinic:

I have a group of friends with whom I love to travel. We plan several trips a year, and we are planning to visit the Caribbean next. We will stay at an all-inclusive resort in a popular destination and do a few sightseeing day trips in the area.

Are there things we should do to be safe while traveling?

A: Travel is always a fun activity to enjoy with friends. In addition to just transporting you to a different place, travel can broaden your perspective, increase your happiness, give you a chance to try new things, boost your creativity and help you recharge.

As I’m sure you have found, even plan-

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Ongoing ning a trip can be an exciting task. The anticipation of mapping an itinerary and scheduling your must-see attractions can bring a lot of joy and happiness.

Unfortunately, nothing can ruin a trip like illness. Even in an all-inclusive resort, knowing how food is prepared or the quality of the water supply is not possible. Mosquitos and other insects remain a concern.

Here are four things to remember as you plan your travel, regardless of your accommodations:

Get vaccinated

First, I recommend that all travelers be vaccinated against the flu and be up to date with Covid vaccines and boosters. In addition, it’s important to complete the adult

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vaccination schedule that includes vaccinations for chickenpox; diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; pneumococcal bacteria; measles, mumps and rubella (MMR); polio and shingles.

Additional vaccines may be recommended depending on your travel itinerary. For example, hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for people traveling to Southeast Asia. This is because some infections are more prevalent in tropical settings than in temperate climates.

Typhoid fever and hepatitis A are more common in Southeast Asia because these communicable diseases can be spread through contaminated water. Some areas of Africa and South America have a higher prevalence of yellow fever and malaria.

If you are unsure if other vaccines are recommended for your destination, I recommend having a conversation with your primary care clinician and reviewing the CDC recommendations.

Food and water precautions

Second, food and water safety are important while traveling.

Only eat well-cooked food. Avoid eating uncooked foods, like salad and raw vegetables, and from roadside stands.

Drink bottled beverages only, including bottled water. This is especially important if you travel in resource-limited regions during sightseeing day trips.

Personal hygiene

Third, hand hygiene is essential at home and overseas. Wash your hands often using soap and hot water.

Follow respiratory etiquette by covering

Italy

From page 26 eight kids gathered there, talking and playing, framed by olive trees and hillsides. It was a scene out of a movie or a dream.

When we returned and told friends about the trip, many remarked that the time must have flown by. In part because so much planning was in place, I didn’t let it. I soaked in every moment, holding on, appreciating this dream becoming a reality.

I can close my eyes right now and feel the cool terracotta tiles under my feet. I can hear the laughter of a granddaughter and grandson playing in the next room, too giddy to sleep. I can taste the homemade lasagna, the zucchini flowers and the delicious grocery store pizza.

Perhaps my favorite memory was the afternoon one grandson came up to me when we were alone in the apartment and, in a serious tone, said, “LaLa, I’m glad you’re my grandmother.”

I lowered my post-chemo, barely-haired head to him and said, “I am so lucky to have you!”

Some tips if you go Round-trip tickets to Italy in the sum- your mouth and hands when you sneeze or cough, and washing your hands after. Consider optional masking in crowded and indoor spaces.

Prepare for Mother Nature

Finally, plan for the sun and bugs. Mosquitos and bugs can transmit parasites and diseases, like yellow fever and malaria.

Prophylactic malaria medications are available and are started before the travel, continued during the stay and for a certain duration after returning home. A travel medicine specialist can review the risks and benefits of all prevention and treatment options.

Also, use mosquito repellents and mosquito nets, if appropriate, in your travel destination.

Additionally, don’t forget to pack your sunscreen, as you also want to reduce your risk for sun damage, which can create other challenges while traveling.

If you plan additional trips in the future that have a complex itinerary with multiple countries, or are traveling to Southeast Asia or Africa, it’s best to make an appointment with a travel medicine specialist about two months before travel.

I also recommend that if you or your friends have any immunocompromising conditions, you seek travel medicine consultation to reduce the risk of illness during travel.

— Raj Palraj, M.D., Infectious Diseases, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse, Wisconsin mertime can be pricey. At press time, the lowest-priced roundtrip ticket from D.C. airports to Rome was $1,200. There are no direct flights from D.C. to Milan, near Lake Como.

©2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

If you’re planning a large group vacation in Italy, here are some tips: Hire a bus. Our bus and bus drivers were wonderful, and we never had to worry about navigating unfamiliar roads, directions or parking.

Rent a villa with air conditioning. We also made sure to rent a villa where the windows had screens. We didn’t open the windows in July’s heat, but they’d be great in spring or fall.

Hire a professional photographer. Even though iPhones take fantastic shots, you will want some of the whole family. Carry along snacks for children. Even though you can buy food everywhere, pulling something out of a bag or backpack is nice if you are stuck.

Make time before and after the trip to rest. Arriving a couple of days early in Rome allowed us to adjust to the time change. Moving on to Lake Como afterward gave us a much-appreciated rest after the joyful chaos of the family week.

B&Bs

From page 27 with the best French onion soup I’ve ever had, along with homemade bread. Everything is exquisitely plated. The wine list reads like an unabridged novel, and the sommelier can help you choose the perfect pairing.

Breakfast included homemade croissants, breakfast bread, creative entrees, fresh juice and café au lait.

Hambleton Inn Bed & Breakfast, St. Michaels, MD

We kicked off 2023 at Hambleton Inn Bed & Breakfast in St. Michaels, Maryland. Owner-innkeeper Debra Alms, architectural designer, and her partner Richard

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Apr. 22

P. Beavers, who works in construction, took a neglected waterfront B&B and totally restored and renovated it.

They modernized the historic 1840 shipbuilder’s home with a Victorian ambiance and filled it with antiques, rugs and chandeliers. As we toured the house, Debra showed us pictures of the original structure and artifacts they found during the renovations.

Each of the seven rooms in this luxurious B&B has a unique decor. Of course, they all have plush robes, bedspreads and pillows, and a magnificent faux fur throw draped over each bed. Its ensuite bathrooms have jetted tubs and showers; one even has a large copper tub.

Outdoors, guests can sip wine or make

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Disability Expo on Sat., April 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at The Samuel Riggs IV Alumni Center, 7801 Alumni Dr., College Park, MD. The free expo, organized by the nonprofit Caring Communities, includes free wheelchair inspection and repair, and showcases durable medical equipment, personal care products, services, agencies and more. Reserve your spot at bit.ly/DisabilitiesExpo.

WORLD MIGRATORY BIRD FESTIVAL

May 13 s’mores at the firepit while enjoying water views and local wildlife like green herons, mallards, ospreys and bald eagles. And for a little extra romance, there’s Honeymoon Bridge — a late 19th-century pedestrian bridge in St. Michaels.

Learn about hummingbirds, osprey and other birds with hands-on activities, games, crafts, bird walks and more at this free bilingual event. Meet at Lacey Woods Park Picnic Shelter, 1200 N George Mason Dr., Arlington, VA, on Sat., May 13, from 10 a.m. to noon. Registration is not required.

For the Eastern Shore gourmet breakfast, we had orange juice, toast with caviar, bacon, homemade biscuits and two fried green tomatoes, topped with large crabcakes and a poached egg finished with Hollandaise sauce. During the day, our hosts offered snickerdoodle cookies and coffee.

Everything in St. Michaels is within walking distance, so we parked in the private lot and explored the town’s boutiques,

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Ongoing galleries, shops, museums and varied dining options. Debra recommended places for dinner and what to see.

Now that we’ve experienced the wonderful world of nearby B&Bs, we’re ready to discover more hidden gems.

For more information, visit innatwhiteoak.com, laubergeprovencale.com and hambletoninnbb.com.

In addition to reading reviews on Tripadvisor and Yelp, look them up on selectregistry.com, which lists B&Bs that meet a set of standards.

Note: Some B&Bs have steep stairs, so if you have mobility issues or don’t want to climb stairs, ask for a first-floor room.

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Job Searching In The Digital Age

May 3

Visit the Aspen Hill Library to learn how to use social media and online tools like LinkedIn in your job search. This Senior Planet technology lecture will also cover freelance work and how to supplement your income in innovative ways. The free in-person class takes place on Wed., May 3, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at 4407 Aspen Hill Rd., Rockville, MD. For more information, call (240) 773-9410.