You are already looking forward to your next holiday, but have you also thought about your health? A new study by Forbes Advisor has identified the travel destinations where vacationers are most likely to get sick.
Holidays are the best time of the year, but an illness can quickly spoil the fun. In some popular travel destinations, the risk of contracting the disease is particularly high, a new study shows. The Travel Bug Index Index 2023 analyzed approximately 2.4 million posts on popular travel forums for keywords such as “salmonella”, “gastroenteritis”, “e-coli” and “food poisoning”.
The results were also compared to recommended vaccinations or boosters and malaria risk for the destination according to the UK National Health Service. The result: The five places with the highest probability of getting sick are all popular vacation spots. The higher the score, the more likely tourists are to get sick.
Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic ranked first with a score of 90.4 sad top spot in the list of places with the highest risk of disease. Tourists are drawn to the white-sand beaches, tropical vibe and vibrant nightlife, yet nearly 10 percent of those who use travel forums complain of illness-related ailments while on vacation.
The NHS recommends that tourists get two vaccinations against hepatitis A and tetanus before traveling to the Dominican Republic and consider four additional vaccinations. Tap water should be avoided and if there is a low risk of contracting malaria, tourists should invest in anti-malarial tablets before leaving.
Second place is taken by Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt (83.5), known for its dive resorts, shopping, and five-star hotels. Although there is no risk of malaria at this resort, the study’s research uncovered more than 6,000 travel forum posts related to illnesses such as food poisoning. This corresponds to almost 11 percent of all relevant forum posts.
Travelers planning to travel to Sharm El Sheikh should get two vaccinations for polio and tetanus, according to the NHS, and can consider more. Tap water should be avoided at all costs.
Sal is one of the most popular islands in Cape Verde and offers crystal clear water and 350 days of sunshine a year. But more than 11 percent of the visitors complain about illnesses. With an index score of 70.6, the holiday destination is in third place.
Travelers are recommended to get two shots of hepatitis A and tetanus and consider three more shots before visiting any of Cape Verde’s ten islands. The risk of malaria infection is low, but anti-malarial tablets are recommended. Tap water should be avoided.
Fourth and fifth place are taken by Playa del Carmen and Cabo San Lucas – both in Mexico – with an index score of just over 63 each.
Travel Risk Map helps with travel preparation
An additional, helpful addition is the Travel risk map . This not only provides information about the most dangerous travel destinations, but also shows which countries are classified as particularly safe.
This allows you to identify possible safety risks and prepare accordingly for your trip. Also of particular interest is the in-depth information on the five critical aspects provided by the Risk Map.
Travel safely with the app from the Federal Foreign Office
There are many things to consider when traveling to a new country. Which entry regulations apply? is it safe there Are there any special rules or regulations? What are the health risks? With the Travel Safely App of the Federal Foreign Office you have all important information at hand in one app. A look at the app is highly recommended, especially for travelers who are away from the typical holiday countries and regions.