Do you have all you need for winter travel?

According to an Internet survey, 70 per cent of Canadians are more concerned with
losing their luggage or their passport than contracting a serious illness when
on vacation. Hepatitis A and B are highly infectious liver diseases, but they
are also the two most common vaccine-preventable diseases, according to Dr. Jay
Keystone, tropical disease specialist and professor of medicine at the University
of Toronto.

“Canadians are still of the mindset that they can avoid hepatitis and
other diseases when travelling by staying away from ice cubes and water, but
they need to recognize that the risks exist elsewhere,” says Keystone.

Hepatitis A is found in the feces of infected people and is spread through
close contact or by ingesting contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B is spread
through bodily fluids such as blood, semen, vaginal secretions and saliva. See
your doctor at least one month before your trip to discuss whether a vaccine
is required for your destination.

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