Travel Unravelled

ISTM
  • 5.0 (4)
  • Places & Travel
  • Updated Monthly

Join experts from the International Society of Travel Medicine as they unravel the most important travel tips you need to know. Hear the legendary stories about the history of travel medicine, why your favourite cocktail might also be an ancient malaria treatment, and where you should never go without travel insurance. Whether you're an adventure amateur or an expeditioner with experience, Travel Unravelled has something for everyone. Bon voyage!

  1. Jul 14 ·  Video

    When the World Comes to Play: Mass Gatherings and the FIFA World Cup

    This summer, the world turned its eyes to the biggest sporting event on the planet: the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Spanning three countries — Canada, United States, and Mexico — and drawing millions of fans across borders, this isn't just football. It's one of the largest mass gatherings in modern history, and with it comes a unique convergence of travel, public health, and infectious disease risk. So behind the goals, the GOATS, the gathering of diasporas and chants, and the late-night celebrations, another team is on the field — travel medicine. Travel medicine clinicians work hard to maintain the safety of crowds at all sorts of mass gatherings, from religious pilgrimages like the Hajj to summer concert festivals like Coachella and Glastonbury. So what should travellers and clinicians know to prepare for mass gatherings? In this episode, we're exploring the fascinating world of mass gatherings medicine — where celebration meets surveillance, and where travel medicine plays a critical role in keeping the world moving safely.  In this episode we'll be discussing: What vaccines should you get before you travel to a mass gathering like a sporting event – the Olympics – or a religious festival, like the Hajj? When should you begin preparing and what's the ideal timeline for preparation? We'll be talking about climate considerations – how to prepare for extremes of heat or cold?  What considerations should you consider for immigration? GUEST BIOS Dr. Jill Weatherhead is the US Soccer Infectious Disease Consultant. Director of the Pediatric Tropical Medicine clinic at Texas Children's Hospital and the Adult Tropical Medicine clinic in Harris Health System in Houston, TX. She was a coauthor of the recent 2026 FIFA World Cup guidelines for travellers. Dr. Salim Parker is a travel medicine specialist in mass gatherings and the Hajj pilgrimage. And a general practitioner based in Cape Town. He  co-authored the Hajj Travel chapter in the last 4 editions of the CDC Yellow Book on Travelers Health.  LINKS Jill Weatherhead coauthored this review: The 2026 FIFA World Cup: Communicable disease risks and advice for visitors to Canada, the United States, and Mexico Salim Parker coauthored the Hajj Travel chapter in the last 4 editions of the CDC Yellow Book on Travelers Health To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show! The ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency. DISCUSSION POINTS 00:00 Introduction 01:52 Episode topics 02:22 Guest introductions 06:47 Mass gatherings 08:12 Infectious diseases 09:40 Crowded transport 11:53 Vaccine mandates 14:02 Outbreak resurgence 16:13 Routine vaccines 18:44 Yellow fever 23:22 Quarantine rules 26:50 Visa requirements 28:16 Environmental risks 30:28 Heat tragedies 32:46 Hydration breaks 36:30 Heat symptoms 38:40 Heat stroke 40:52 Mobility issues 42:44 Behavioral risks 45:41 Mpox concerns 48:21 Vector-borne diseases 51:25 Mosquito avoidance 52:47 Tick dangers 54:56 Travel tips 58:33 Journey purpose 59:46 Educational preparation 01:00:19 Lifelong vaccines 01:01:58 Preparedness importance 01:04:14 Podcast credits

  2. Apr 29

    Founding Travel Medicine: The ISTM's Formative Years

    Journey back with us nearly 40 years ago, when travel medicine was but a sparkle in a few physicians' eyes — and discover how a handful of visionary health professionals built a global medical field.  In this special episode of Travel Unravelled, host Dr. Aisha Khatib and ISTM president Dr. Anne McCarthy sit down with ISTM foundational members Robert Steffen, Herbert DuPont, Phyllis Kozarsky and Nancy Jenks to trace the storied origins of the International Society of Travel Medicine. From faxed New Yorker cartoons to standing‑room‑only ad hoc conferences in Zurich, these trailblazers share candid stories of risk and serendipity — including personal hotel guarantees, MDs clad in leather pants, the birth of GeoSentinel and the importance of nurses to the burgeoning field of travel medicine.  What began as a small group filling a clinical gap has grown into a global force protecting travelers and tracking disease across borders. Theirs is the story of a field coming into its own. But as climate change and global mobility reshape risk, the work is far from done.  We'll explore: How "travel medicine" got its name — and why alternatives like emporiatrics were rejected. The inside story of the first Zurich meeting and how it unexpectedly drew nearly 500 people without email, fax or the internet. The high‑stakes gamble behind the 1991 Atlanta meeting, including personal financial risk to secure the Marriott Marquis. How ISTM was formally born from the success of Atlanta, including creating a nonprofit. The creation of GeoSentinel, from paper forms and faxed reports to a global surveillance network for emerging diseases. The origins of the ISTM exam and the surprise of filling a New York ballroom with 450 test‑takers at the first sitting. The pivotal role of nurses and women in shaping travel medicine's education, practice and leadership. How informal personal networks and friendships helped globalize a niche specialty long before digital communication. The guests' visions for travel medicine's future, from evidence-based practice to integrating travel health into everyday primary care. GUEST BIOS Herbert (Bert) L. DuPont is a founding member and the first president of the International Society of Travel Medicine. He began his academic career as an Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS) officer with the US Centers for Disease Control assigned to the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. After several years on the Maryland faculty, he moved to the University of Texas Medical School at Houston as the school's founding director of its program in infectious diseases and microbiology. He is a world-renowned authority on traveller's diarrhea and infectious gastroenteritis. In addition to his work with ISTM, Dr. DuPont served as President of the Infectious Diseases Society of America, the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases and the American Clinical and Climatological Association. He served on the Board of Governors for the American College of Physicians (ACP) and served as ACP Governor for south Texas. He is a member of the American Epidemiological Society. Robert Steffen is Professor Emeritus at the University of Zurich and Adjunct Professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston. Since the 1970s he has assessed morbidity and mortality related to international travel to conclude on preventive strategies. He organized the first international conference of travel medicine in 1988 in Zurich and was a co-founder of the International Society of Travel Medicine. He presided over the Swiss Federal Commission for Influenza and was Vice-President of the Federal Commission on Vaccination. He contributed to many WHO advisory boards and served as Chair of all recent IHR Ebola Emergency Committees. He was the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Travel Medicine, of the International Journal of Public Health and Section Editor for Clinical Infectious Diseases. Phyllis E. Kozarsky is Professor Emerita with distinction in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University, with over 35 years of impactful work as a clinician, researcher, and educator in infectious diseases, travel medicine and global health. She served for 25 years as a consultant to the CDC's Division of Global Migration and Quarantine and was chief medical editor of the CDC "Yellow Book," helping establish it as a leading global reference. A founding member of the International Society of Travel Medicine and co-founder of GeoSentinel, she has played a key role in advancing global surveillance of travel-related illnesses. Dr. Kozarsky also helped define standards in travel medicine. Nancy Jenks is the Director of Research Initiatives and migrant/travel medicine at Sun River Health in Peekskill, NY. She served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Senegal, West Africa, worked at CIWEC Clinic in Kathmandu, Nepal and served as a research fellow at the WHO Center for the Prevention and Control of Viral Hepatitis in Antwerp, Belgium. She is a board member of the Clinical Directors Network, a national practice-based research network. Her research interests include chronic and infectious diseases among migrant populations and she has been the site director for the GeoSentinel network, a global sentinel network of travelers and immigrants, since 2001. Jenks is a former board member of the International Society of Travel Medicine.   LINKS Dr. Robert Steffen's "History of ISTM" webinar and presentation Journal of Travel Medicine 2025 article: Leaders behind the launching of the international society of travel medicine, the journal of travel medicine and helping to define a new medical discipline Journal of Travel Medicine 1994 article: Travel Medicine: What's That? Mentioned in this episode: The Travel Unravelled episode on GeoSentinel and international efforts to track disease: The Tale of Two Travellers Travel Unravelled is sponsored by the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT). To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show! The ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency. DISCUSSION POINTS 00:00 Introductions 03:20 ISTM origins 05:45 Field name 07:10 Zurich 1988 13:25 Atlanta 1991 16:31 Early sponsorships 20:07 Nancy Jenks 23:25 David Shlim 25:45 ISTM value prop 28:27 After Atlanta 29:37 Paris 1993 30:32 Acapulco 1995 33:52 Robert Steffen looks back 35:09 Bert DuPont 36:49 Phyllis Kozarsky 38:44 GeoSentinel 42:09 The exam 44:48 Nancy Jenks looks back 48:25 Anne McCarthy 50:07 Advice for ISTM 53:29 Thanking founders

  3. 12/02/2025

    Unwanted Souvenirs: Top Five Parasites in Travellers

    With names like leishmaniasis, myiasis, new world screwworm and gnathostomiasis, parasitic infections can be absolutely the worst souvenir to bring back from any trip. They all come from unwanted hitchhikers that can return with travellers after they explore distant and not-so-distant destinations, turning even the most idyllic trip into a nightmare. So, how can travellers avoid bringing back unwanted parasitic souvenirs? What should travellers do to minimize the risk of parasitic infection? And what should you do if you suspect you have a parasitic disease? In this special in-person taping of the Travel Unravelled podcast recorded at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) 2025 annual meeting in Toronto, moderator Dr. Aisha Khatib is joined by International Society of Travel Medicine president Dr. Anne McCarthy to welcome special guest host Dr. Henry Wu, clinical group president of ASTMH and director of Emory University's TravelWell Center. The two tropical medicine specialists interview Dr. Carlos Seas, Associate Professor of Medicine at Cayetano Heredia University, and Dr. Stephen Vaughan, Clinical Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary. Together, this group brings decades of experience in travel and tropical medicine, sharing expert insights, practical advice, and real-world stories to help travellers stay safe. Content Warning: This episode includes graphic discussions of parasitic infections. Viewer discretion is advised. We'll uncover: Where parasites hide  The environments that put travellers at risk Foods and water sources that can carry parasitic infections How to protect yourself and avoid bringing home an unwanted souvenir Real-life stories and anecdotes from travellers and clinicians Key parasites to watch for, including skin, food-borne, and vector-borne infections GUEST BIOS Dr. Henry Wu is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Distinguished Physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Emory University. Dr. Wu serves as the director of the Emory TravelWell Center, Emory's clinical center dedicated to the prevention, treatment, and surveillance of infections related to travel and migration. He previously served at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer and Medical Epidemiologist at the Meningitis and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Branch. Dr. Wu's interests include infectious diseases epidemiology, tropical diseases, travel medicine and the evaluation of patients for serious emerging infections. Dr. Carlos Seas is a Gorgas Course Director. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Subdirector of the Alexander von Humboldt Tropical Medicine Institute at Cayetano Heredia University. He has published over 140 peer-reviewed papers and several chapters in textbooks such as Mandel's and Cecil's, and is associate editor of several reputed medical Journals  His research interests include tuberculosis, cholera, shigellosis, hospital-acquired infections, HIV/AIDS, skin and soft tissue infections, infections in travellers, antimicrobial resistance, and S. aureus bacteriemia. He is a Member of the National Academy of Medicine in Peru and Fellow of the Infectious Disease Society of America, and has served DSMB's at NIH-USA for over 12 years. Dr. Stephen Vaughan is a Clinical Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Calgary, Cumming School of Medicine, and the Adult Infectious Disease Residency Program Director. He's passionate about sharing his knowledge and has been awarded numerous clinical teaching awards, appears in the media as an infectious disease expert, and, in the past, provided COVID-19 guidance to the Calgary Flames. He has served on the Committee to Advise on Tropical Medicine and Travel (CATMAT), Calgary Site Lead for GeoSentinel (CDC-funded), and founded the Canadian National Tropical Medicine Rounds. Dr. Vaughan's research interests include tropical infectious diseases, and phage therapy.  LINKS The CDC's guide to prepping for parasitic diseases while travelling What is cutaneous larva migrans? Furuncular myiasis in a returning traveller. The periscope sign as a new dermatoscopy finding to facilitate the diagnosis of furuncular myiasis. Furuncular myiasis in a traveller to West Africa. What is Amebiasis? CDC describes Gnathostomiasis. What is Fascioliasis? Understanding your risk for Leishmaniasis. Clinical management of East African trypanosomiasis in South Africa. What is Schistosomiasis? Parasites Without Borders Podcast Travel Unravelled is sponsored by the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT). IAMAT is the exclusive sponsor of season 2 of ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast. To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show! The ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency.   DISCUSSION POINTS 00:00 Intro 04:55 Dr. Carlos Seas 06:37 Dr. Stephen Vaughan 07:52 Cutaneous larva migrans 10:04 Myiasis 15:40 New World Screwworm 17:35 Paragonimiasis 25:08 Gnathostomiasis 31:23 Fascioliasis 36:01 Vector-borne parasites 42:48 Lightning round advice 46:50 Audience questions 56:30 Wrap up

  4. 10/21/2025

    Travel Health Insurance and Medical Care on the Road

    Travel insurance is often an afterthought in trip planning. Some travellers skip it altogether. Others buy it without really knowing what they're covered for — or how it works when things go wrong. But when the unexpected happens — like a scooter crash in Bali, a flare-up of a chronic condition in Peru, or an illness in a remote location — travel insurance can be the key to accessing timely medical care and support. In this episode of Travel Unravelled, we take a closer look at travel health insurance through the lens of clinicians who advise travellers before departure and care for them when things don't go to plan. Whether you're a frequent flyer, a first-time traveller, or a clinician advising patients before departure, this episode offers practical, evidence-informed insights to help everyone travel smarter and safer. We'll unpack: What travel insurance actually covers Common exclusions that catch travellers off guard. What medical assistance companies can and can't do for a traveller. Real-world case studies of denied claims and costly outcomes. Travel insurance tips for travellers on how to prepare, what to check, and how to avoid common pitfalls.   GUEST BIOS Dr. Gareth Richards has extensive experience in medical retrievals and repatriation across Australia, New Zealand, the Pacific, and Asia. He also consults for First Assistance, an international medical assistance company, where he advises on everything from minor ailments to evacuating critically ill patients from remote, resource-limited settings. Dr. Kamolthip Atsawawaranunt is a Thai physician with training in Family, Travel, and Occupational Medicine. She currently works as the Medical Advisor for Thailand and Laos at International SOS, where she provides professional medical assistance services. Her role includes conducting medical assessments and consultations, offering telephone advice, coordinating complex medical evacuations and repatriations, and supporting clinical governance.   LINKS  First Assistance, an international medical assistance company, is here. International SOS provides professional medical assistance services in locations around the world. Find it here.  Watch our episode on altitude sickness. Traffic accident statistics for Thailand.  CDC Yellow book chapter on travel health and medical evacuation insurance. Tips on choosing travel insurance for your trip (Australia). Travel Unravelled is sponsored by the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT). IAMAT is the exclusive sponsor of season 2 of ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast. To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show! The ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency. DISCUSSION POINTS 00:00 Welcome back to Travel Unravelled! 00:40 Catching up with Travel Unravelled hosts 01:46 Guest introduction 03:18 Basics of travel health insurance 05:13 Common illnesses abroad 08:15 Evacuation vs. repatriation 15:28 Cost of care without travel insurance 18:49 Common travel insurance claims 24:02 Injured or ill abroad tips 29:26 Read the fine print 32:27 Standard travel insurance policy 39:08 Case examples 46:59 Travel insurance use 56:29 Lightning round: travel insurance tips 59:11 Final comments

  5. 08/19/2025

    Across the Ages: Travel Advice for Parents from Pediatricians

    Family travel is on an upward trend. A 2023 study from the Family Travel Association found that 81% of parents are "very likely" to explore the world with their children over the next 12 months. So what does it take to plan a safe and healthy trip with kids? Expert pediatricians Dr. Mike Starr and Dr. Sheila Mackell join the Travel Unravelled podcast to provide guidance. Dr. Starr is a general pediatrician and infectious diseases specialist in Melbourne with more than 30 years of experience, while Dr. Mackell is a pediatrician in Flagstaff, Arizona, with more than 35 years of experience in general pediatrics and travel medicine. Together, they discuss a wide variety of tips and tricks that every parent should know before booking a trip with little ones.   From vaccinations and common illnesses to environmental risks, medications, and even sport and activity precautions, there's a lot more to travelling with young people than booking flights — and once you listen to this episode, you'll be a lot better prepared to handle it.    GUEST BIOS Dr. Mike Starr is a general pediatrician, infectious diseases physician and emergency physician at The Royal Children's Hospital in Melbourne, and an Associate Professor in the Department of Paediatrics at the University of Melbourne. He's been working in travel medicine for over 30 years, specialising in the care of children, families and pregnant women. He's authored many papers, guidelines and textbook chapters on paediatric travel medicine topics.  He's one of the authors/editors of the Australian Manual of Travel Medicine.   Dr. Sheila Mackell is a pediatrician based in Flagstaff, Arizona, with over 35 years of experience in general pediatrics and travel medicine. She trained at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Virginia, and UCSF, and holds a certificate in tropical medicine from the American Society of Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. She now teaches travel medicine and public health, and travels with surgical teams to provide pediatric care for children undergoing cleft lip and palate surgery.   LINKS The Family Travel Association 2023 study showed that 81% of families are very likely to travel with their children in the next 12 months Take out the Australian Manual of Travel Medicine Check out your destination's road safety rules with the World Health Organization's app WHO declares July 25 as World Drowning Prevention Day  Boil it, cook it, peel it or leave it! Tips on eating and drinking safely abroad Listen to The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne podcast episode on how to help children take medicine To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show! Travel Unravelled is sponsored by the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT), which provides extensive resources, like the Guide to Healthy Travel, and Guide to Travel Health Insurance. IAMAT is the exclusive sponsor of season 2 of ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast. The ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency.   DISCUSSION POINTS 00:00 Welcome back to Travel Unravelled! 00:40 Catching up with Travel Unravelled hosts 01:52 Guest introduction 03:30 Understanding pediatric travel 04:25 The best age groups to travel with 08:04 The most common accidents during travel 10:05 Tips for travelling with teens or school-age children 15:07 Vaccinations you should know about 24:32 Food, water, and diarrheal illness prevention in children 31:06 Flying with children 38:52 How to approach malaria risk conversations 43:21 Types of medications for children 47:44 Protection against insects 51:42 Activity and sport precautions abroad 55:24: Lightning round: three essential travel tips for parents 01:01:05 Final comments

  6. 07/29/2025

    High Stakes: A Guide to Altitude Illness in Travellers

    Approximately 50,000 people attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro every year, making Africa's highest peak one of the most popular climbing destinations in the world. But despite the many ambitious climbers, only 60% actually make it to the top. That's likely because many climbers, regardless of age, experience, and fitness level, will face something far more elusive: altitude sickness. And it's not just the climbers who feel it; millions of tourists at high-altitude destinations ranging from the Andes to the Himalayas are equally at risk. Headaches, nausea, and gastrointestinal issues are just some of the common symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), a near-universal part of the climbing experience at 3,000 metres above sea level. And unlike other travel illnesses, there's no vaccine for this one. So what's actually helpful to alleviate symptoms? Are preventive medicines like acetazolamide reliable? What about Peru's coca tea or Nepali Pilgrim's black pepper, ginger, and garlic remedy–are any of those effective at all? And is there any value to having oxygen piped into your room? In this episode, the Travel Unravelled hosts are joined by topic experts Dr. Steven Roy (Canada), Dr. Suman Acharya (Nepal), and Professor Ross Hofmeyr (South Africa) to explore the risk of altitude sickness in travellers: how to prepare for it, and how different cultures and climbers around the world try to prevent or treat it.   GUEST BIOS Dr. Steven Roy is an intensive care physician and a consultant in high altitude and wilderness medicine. He is the program director of the Diploma in Wilderness & Expedition Medicine and co-program director of the Resident Physician Elective in Wilderness Medicine. Dr. Roy has high-altitude experience in the Himalayas, the Alps, the Rockies, and the Andes. Dr. Suman Acharya is a consultant physician at Lumbini Provincial Hospital, located on the Southern border of Nepal. He did his Diploma in Mountain Medicine in 2017 and frequently goes to the Himalayas as an expedition doctor, trains and educates mountain guides and climbers about altitude illness. Dr. Acharya is currently serving as the secretary of the Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal and as a Board member at the Himalayan Rescue Association.   Professor Ross Hofmeyr is a cardiothoracic anaesthesiologist at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and co-founder and medical director for Wild Medix. With a special interest in extreme physiology, he has led expeditions in environments ranging from the Antarctic to the tropics, including running mountain medicine training on many of Africa's highest peaks, such as Kilimanjaro and Mount Kenya.   LINKS Download ISTM's Altitude Illness Fact Sheet. Check out the UIAA's Summit Series featuring medical guidance for those seeking to summit some of the world's highest peaks. HACE occurs in about 0.5–1% of individuals ascending between 4,000–5,000 m. Take the Lake Louise Scale to assess adults with AMS. Watch IUAA's guide on high-altitude illness treatment and prevention. Acetazolamide is a great tool to combat symptoms of AMS—unless you get adverse reactions to "sulfa" antibiotics. Dexamethasone is effective for preventing and treating AMS and HACE and might prevent HAPE as well. Nifedipine both prevents and ameliorates HAPE. A study on the use of sildenafil citrate (aka Viagra) to treat HAPE is here. To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show! Visit the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT), which provides extensive resources, like the Guide to Healthy Travel, and Guide to Travel Health Insurance. IAMAT is the exclusive sponsor of season 2 of ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast. The ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency.   DISCUSSION POINTS 00:00 Welcome back to Travel Unravelled! 00:42 Catching up with Travel Unravelled hosts 03:15 Guest introduction 09:33 What is altitude illness? 17:13 Why do many mistake altitude sickness for a bad meal? 22:40 How can we be better prepared for high-altitude? 28:28 Why do people speedrun Kilimanjaro? 39:33 Does being fit help avoid altitude illness? 41:12 Is ibuprofen a good preventative for altitude illness? 51:20 Why are people having trouble sleeping at altitude? 56:46 Does coca tea actually help with altitude illness? 1:01:14 What to add to a first-aid climbing kit? 1:12:57 How do you get rescued from high altitude? 1:23:36 Final comments

  7. 05/29/2025

    Snakebites and Travellers: Myths, Facts, and First Aid

    The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5 million snakebites occur each year, with between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths. A fear of snakes is common. It doesn't help that snakes have long been cast as villains: In Raiders of the Lost Ark, a deadly cobra lurks in an ancient Egyptian temple. In Greek mythology, Medusa's snake mane is her ultimate weapon. And in real life, White Lotus star Walton Goggins recently revealed he was bitten by a snake while filming in Thailand.  It's no surprise that travellers worry about snakebite. So in the 10th episode of Travel Unravelled, we're exploring how to minimize the risk of envenomation—and providing some tips for travellers and clinicians in the event that they do encounter a bite from a venomous serpent. Here, the Travel Unravelled team of Dr. Albie de Frey, Dr. Sarah McGuinness and Dr. Aisha Khatib benefit from the perspectives of renowned experts Professor David Warrell, the founding director of the Centre for Tropical Medicine at Oxford University, UK and Dr. Bart Currie, leader of the Tropical and Emerging Infectious Diseases team at the Menzies School of Health Research in Darwin, Australia.  How do you determine snakebite risk at your travel destination? What can you do to minimize snakebite risk? What should you do if you get bitten by a snake? Takeaways that our experts explore include: The importance of immobilization and getting to medical care quickly The value of a photo of the snake, if safe to obtain The fact that not all snakebite victims require antivenom And that clinical assessment and observation are crucial in early hospital management   LINKS Watch the World Health Organization's Science in 5 - Snakebites: Life saving facts This GeoSentinel analysis provides lots of information about travellers' exposures to animals around the world—including snakes.  The WHO Factsheet on snakebite envenoming. Snake identification in Africa Guidelines on snake antivenom production Map showing snake species, data, and information Prevention and clinical management of snakebite in Africa Prevention and clinical management of snakebite in South and South East Asia Bandage types for snakebite first aid  Global mapping of snakebite envenoming hotspots To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show! Visit the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT), which provides extensive resources, like the Guide to Healthy Travel, and Guide to Travel Health Insurance. IAMAT is the exclusive sponsor of season 2 of ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast. The ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency.   DISCUSSION POINTS 00:00 Introduction 01:42 Catching up with Travel Unravelled hosts 03:50 Introducing our guests​ 08:30 Is the fear of snakes an unreasonable concern for travellers? 12:50 Types of snakes: Cytotoxic, Neurotoxic, Hemotoxic 21:07 What to do if you've been bitten by a snake 34:23 Snakebite first aid: Everything you need to know 50:10 Signs and symptoms of snakebite 1:00:02 How to effectively treat a snakebite  1:08:00 Final remarks

  8. 04/08/2025

    The Traveller's Shield: Every Vaccine Is a Travel Vaccine

    For the first episode of Travel Unravelled season 2, our team of experts—Dr. Anne McCarthy, Dr. Albie de Frey, Dr. Sarah McGuinness and Dr. Aisha Khatib—encourage us to reframe the way we think about vaccines and travel health.  Getting vaccinated before travel shouldn't be just for "exotic" trips or the wealthy—it's essential for everyone. In our connected world, travel health is global health.  The topic has never been more relevant. Right now, measles is resurging in the U.S., Canada and Europe, polio is being detected in wastewater in multiple countries, and mpox cases are re-emerging with new variants. Influenza is spreading year-round in the tropics, and outbreaks are following international travellers. Whether you're heading to Bali, Barcelona, or Boston, the diseases of the world don't respect borders—and vaccines can build the protection you need. So what if we saw all vaccines as travel vaccines? And used any healthcare visit by a traveller as a chance for public health interventions?  No matter how "safe" your home country feels, vaccinations are crucial in protecting the health of our global community. Tune in to learn more. LINKS Measles is becoming an issue in the United States, Canada, Europe and the world. Polio cases continue to emerge worldwide Mpox cases are increasing globally Data suggest that flu is at its highest level since the 2009 swine flu pandemic Watch this informational video: What is Herd Immunity? Watch how easily measles spread Visit the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers (IAMAT), which provides extensive resources, like the Guide to Healthy Travel, and Guide to Travel Health Insurance. IAMAT also sponsors ISTM's Travel Unravelled podcast. To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show! Produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency.   DISCUSSION POINTS 00:00 Introduction 02:31 Every vaccine is a travel vaccine 03:15 The four major preventable diseases 03:31 Why vaccinate before travelling? 06:27 How necessary is a measles vaccine? 06:52 Measles symptoms 07:50 Recent measles outbreaks 10:51 Measles early signs and symptoms 12:10 Why are there measles outbreaks? 12:36 Is a Measles booster shot necessary? 16:54 - Solving outbreaks with herd immunity 21:46 - Mpox 27:24 - Mpox vs. Measles 31:22 - Flu/Influenza 34:34 - Why am I still getting sick after being vaccinated? 39:36 - Polio 44:42 - Types of polio vaccines 49:00 - Final remarks

See All (17)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Join experts from the International Society of Travel Medicine as they unravel the most important travel tips you need to know. Hear the legendary stories about the history of travel medicine, why your favourite cocktail might also be an ancient malaria treatment, and where you should never go without travel insurance. Whether you're an adventure amateur or an expeditioner with experience, Travel Unravelled has something for everyone. Bon voyage!

Information

  • Creator
    ISTM
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    17
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2024
  • Show Website
    Travel Unravelled

You Might Also Like