Planning a holiday usually means comparing flights, booking hotels and researching the best places to eat. But one of the most important parts of your trip is often left until the last minute, your health.
Recent reports of Cyclospora infections linked to international travel have raised understandable questions for people planning holidays abroad, particularly those travelling to Mexico and parts of Central America.
While Cyclospora isn’t a new infection, it’s one that many travellers have never heard of until it appears in the headlines.
The good news is that, with the right preparation, the risk of becoming unwell can often be reduced. Understanding how Cyclospora spreads, recognising the symptoms and knowing when to seek medical advice can help you travel with greater confidence.
What is Cyclospora?
Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that causes an intestinal infection known as cyclosporiasis.
People usually become infected by consuming contaminated food or water. Fresh produce, including salads, herbs and berries that have been washed or grown using contaminated water, has been associated with outbreaks in some parts of the world.
Unlike some gastrointestinal infections, Cyclospora is not usually spread directly from one person to another.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms typically develop around a week after exposure and can vary in severity.
Common symptoms include:
- Watery diarrhoea
- Stomach cramps
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Weight loss
One of the distinguishing features of Cyclospora is that symptoms can come and go over several weeks if left untreated.
If you develop persistent diarrhoea during or after travel, particularly after visiting a higher-risk destination, it’s important to seek medical advice.
Who is most at risk?
Cyclospora is found in many parts of the world but is more common in tropical and subtropical regions.
Recent travel related cases have been linked to destinations including Mexico, although the infection has also been reported in parts of Central and South America, Asia and other regions.
The risk to individual travellers remains relatively low but awareness is particularly important during periods where clusters of cases are being reported.
Can you reduce your risk?
While it’s impossible to eliminate every travel related health risk, sensible food and water precautions can significantly reduce your chances of becoming ill.
When travelling, it’s worth remembering to:
- Wash your hands regularly, particularly before eating.
- Choose freshly cooked food where possible.
- Be cautious with salads, herbs and unpeeled fruit if you’re unsure how they have been prepared.
- Drink safe water and be cautious with ice where water quality may be uncertain.
- Follow any destination specific travel health advice before you travel.
Don’t let the headlines put you off travelling
News reports can understandably cause concern, but they shouldn’t stop you enjoying your holiday.
Most people travel without experiencing serious illness. The key is preparation.
A travel health consultation allows you to understand the specific risks for your destination, whether that’s food and water safety, travel vaccinations, malaria prevention or insect bite protection.
Be prepared if illness does occur
Even with the best preparation, travel related illness can still happen.
Having the right treatments with you can make managing common gastrointestinal illnesses much easier, particularly if you’re travelling somewhere with limited access to healthcare or unfamiliar pharmacies.
Our clinician designed Traveller’s Diarrhoea Kit contains carefully selected treatments to help manage common stomach illnesses while travelling, giving you one less thing to worry about should illness strike.
At Fleet Street Clinic, our travel medicine specialists provide personalised travel health consultations, destination specific vaccination advice, malaria prevention and practical guidance to help you stay well while you’re away.
Whether you’re travelling for business, adventure or a family holiday, preparing your health deserves to be part of every itinerary.
Planning a trip? Book a Travel Health Consultation with our specialist team or explore our range of clinician-designed Travel Medical Kits to help you travel prepared.
