Public health aspects of tourism in the Mediterranean

Abstract

This paper was read in the Session on "Medical Aspects of Tourism in the Mediterranean" at the 12th Annual Clinical Meeting of the British Medical Association, in Malta. The tourist`s or traveller`s health depends on three factors, primarily on the country of origin, secondly on the country he visits and thirdly on his behavior therein. Issues concerning these factors are discussed throughout this paper, with interesting reference to tap water safety, health and hygiene standards, the risks involved in consuming exotic food stuffs, the danger of shellfish consumed in a raw state and swimming near sewage disposal points. In addition, further risks arise when eating uncooked fruit and vegetables, taking also into consideration that certain countries use human excreta as fertilisers. The author argues that surveillance is strict in a small country like Malta, however this is not the case in many other countries which do not have a proper sewage disposal system. Particular measures have to be taken from tourists when visiting certain countries, among which are the T.A.B. vaccination and that of not drinking of water. Further illnesses to which the tourist might be exposed are brucellosis, trachoma and rabies, the latter still present in various parts of North Africa.