Many health problems can be avoided through prevention

The greatest dangers to the health of a business traveller from abroad are not those that he fears the most. "The dominant pathology, which can evaluate around 30 of the interventions of an assisteur, is trauma," says Dr. Olivier Barles, Director medical assistance from International SOS, which adds: "mainly because of the accidents of the road or pedestrian." The more banal risk of their lives thus accompanies flyer at the other end of the world, sometimes accentuated by exotic or... different traffic conditions. Thus, it can be as dangerous to cross a street in London, forgetting the direction of traffic to explore Borneo in 4 4.

Then came heart problems for 20 to 30 of interventions , this time exacerbated by fatigue of jetlag, climate and the stress related to the unknown. They represent about a repatriation flight every two days in International SOS. Infectiologiques questions come in third. "But the interventions of Parasitology is in clear regression, says Dr. Olivier Barles with the policies of prophylaxis on the grounds of health", for example advice on precautions regarding water, protection against mosquito bites... "The most dramatic improvement, for travellers, is undoubtedly related to antimalarial prevention programs."

Many health problems can be avoided through prevention. In recent years, the preparation of travel beyond simple vaccine update checks. Travel agencies, security experts and gain all enriched databases and improved the speed of their update. The CWT agency, for example, has just signed an exclusive partnership with Travel health, specialist of the health risks for a Web site to the "travel managers, physicians work and passenger. This company makes records by diseases and destinations, SMS alerts in the event of epidemics and a telephone line accessible 24 hours a day, which are specialized French doctors.

Advanced databases

Database of providers have become quite sharp to help physicians at work to give good advice, check good vaccinations and even prepare medical kits tailored to the situation in each country the departure of the traveller (prophylactic drugs, aseptic equipment...) or to organize ad hoc formations, for example on avian influenza. According to destinations, physicians in the work of France Telecom, for example, are of the recommendations based on risks and may call the travellers to do a check-up, check their vaccinations or provide reimbursable medicines on expense...

When major epidemics, type SARS or avian influenza, the major health decisions first within States, who, in function of contagious risks and latency of the disease, decide procedures hygiene and isolation of the suspects. Providers of travel and security were then mainly information upstream role, to show areas at risk, specify the procedures to meet, or, for these travellers in infected areas, indicate how to protect yourself, where to find masks or medications, Tamiflu type.

The more formidable for the gain is the appearance of haemorrhagic fevers, such as in the Congo or Angola, when it comes to repatriate a patient with Ebola virus, for example. Find a crew that accepts dedicated aircraft transit, equip it a container sealed and secured, obtaining sensitive overview of the different countries concerned, then, after use, making disinfection of all corners of the aircraft. The good insurance assistance is crucial.