Originally published February 26 2006
New study reveals health risks for tourists
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
A study of the records of 17,353 travelers who fell ill between 1996 and 2004 shows travel-related health problems like lingering diarrhea as a result of parasitic infection, dengue fever and tick bite infections pose significant risks to those who visit certain regions of the Third World.
A study released Thursday of the records of 17,353 travelers to 230 developing countries from 1996 through 2004 who fell ill has yielded the most comprehensive picture yet of the illnesses most likely to strike visitors to particular regions of the Third World.
The study of the database, GeoSentinel, showed that many patients had lingering diarrhea from infections by parasites, now more common than bacterial diarrhea, that dengue fever has become more prevalent than malaria in most regions except sub-Saharan Africa and Central America and that infections from tick bites are now a big problem in sub-Saharan Africa.
Depending on the destination, up to two-thirds of travelers to developing countries become sick, with most of them reporting short-lived diarrhea, skin problems and respiratory infections.
European health experts agreed Thursday that there was no need for a heightened travel alert due to the bird flu outbreaks in Turkey.
"All participants at the meeting agreed that advice currently given to travelers is sufficient," said a statement quoting experts from the European Union, the World Health Organization and other bodies.
A rule obliging British parents to make their babies adopt a "neutral" expression for passport photographs has been dropped after thousands of pictures were rejected.
In less than three months last year, more than 15,000 applications for children's passports were turned down because the applicants' expressions were deemed "irregular," The Daily Telegraph newspaper reported.
Children are now allowed to smile for their pictures.
Some Italian railroad workers went on strike Thursday, causing the cancellation of dozens of trains across the country.
The elevated train link between the rail station and the airport in D�sseldorf was shut until September after a technical fault caused four vehicles to stop in midair, the airport said.
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