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A surge in gastrointestinal illnesses is prompting health officials to advise vacationers on preventive measures before departing for summer and fall destinations. Bacterial, viral and parasitic infections causing nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and cramping can derail trips significantly, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC identifies travelers’ diarrhea, typically bacterial in origin, as the most prevalent travel-related stomach ailment.
Between 30% and 70% of travelers experience diarrhea during a two-week journey, with rates varying by destination and time of year, CDC data shows. While prevention cannot be guaranteed entirely, physicians recommend assembling a kit of basic medical supplies before travel to manage symptoms, maintain hydration and determine when professional medical intervention becomes necessary. The CDC has issued a list of recommended items for travelers to pack ahead of their departure.
Hydration represents the critical priority if illness occurs during travel, medical professionals emphasize. Most patients recover from routine stomach bugs within one to three days without intervention, though severe dehydration can warrant emergency medical care, according to Chad D. Neilsen, director of Infection Prevention and Control at Nemours Children’s Health in Florida.
Strategic food selections substantially reduce gastrointestinal infection risks while away, experts say. Bethany Doerfler, senior clinical research dietitian at Northwestern Medicine’s Digestive Health Institute, advises thoroughly cooking higher-risk vegetables including leafy greens and fresh herbs to prevent parasitic infections such as Cyclospora. Heating food to temperatures exceeding 160 degrees Fahrenheit destroys the parasite, Doerfler explained.
Produce with thick protective skins that can be washed and peeled—bananas, avocados and melons—pose less risk than delicate items, Doerfler recommends, allowing travelers to consume fresh produce safely rather than avoiding it entirely. Restaurant sanitation and local water treatment conditions remain largely beyond travelers’ control, limiting the effectiveness of individual precautions. Travelers should seek immediate medical attention if diarrhea worsens, persists, or accompanies fever, bloody stools or dehydration symptoms.
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