A food and water hygiene reminder for travellers

New research highlights the importance of raising awareness among UK travellers about stomach bugs and other travel-related gut infections

All UK travellers and tourists planning a trip abroad are reminded to follow good food and water hygiene advice. This study shows that visiting countries outside of the EU, and to high-risk areas which had low water, sanitation and hygiene scores [1], increases the risk of infections that can cause stomach upset, like diarrhoea or vomiting.

Between 1 July and 15 October 2023, a rise in stomach bugs was reported in travellers returning to England from popular holiday destinations, including Egypt, Mexico, Tunisia and Turkey. Many of these travellers stayed in all-inclusive tourist resorts. The study also suggests the true number of infections is likely to be higher, as it only counted cases diagnosed in travellers after they returned home [2].

Advice for travellers

Before you travel

Check our Country Information pages to research general health risks, prevention advice and any vaccine recommendations or malaria advice for your destination.

Travel with a basic first aid kit. Pack items to help reduce your risk of food and water illness, such as hand sanitiser, and over the counter medicines such as oral rehydration powders, to help you manage diarrhoea.

Comprehensive travel insurance is recommended for all travellers.

While you are away

Make sure you follow these steps when travelling abroad:

• Practice good food and water hygiene at all times, even in high-end, all-inclusive resorts.
• Wash your hands often, including before eating or preparing food, after using the toilet, after changing nappies and before and after sex.
• Eat recently prepared food that is fully cooked and served piping hot.
• Where there is no clean water supply, drink only bottled or boiled tap water (this includes brushing your teeth).
• Always avoid ice in your drinks.
• Avoid fresh fruit that you have not peeled yourself and salads not washed with bottled or boiled water.
• Avoid swallowing water from ponds, lakes and untreated swimming pools.

If you become ill abroad:

• Drink plenty of 'safe' fluids, such as bottled water, or tap water that has been boiled and cooled, and use oral rehydration solutions so that you do not become dehydrated.
• Get early medical advice if you are at greater risk of complications from gastrointestinal infections, this includes babies/young children, older adults, pregnant women and people who are immunosuppressed or have ongoing health conditions.
• Seek medical help if symptoms (such as diarrhoea and vomiting) last more than a few days or are not improving.
• Wash contaminated clothes or bedding on a hot wash and clean toilets, taps and door handles regularly.
• Avoid using swimming pools if you have a stomach bug. Take children on regular toilet breaks and check nappies often. If you have been told you have cryptosporidium do not use a swimming pool for 2 weeks after your diarrhoea has stopped [3].

If you or your partner has had diarrhoea, avoid sexual contact for at least 48 hours. See our travellers' diarrhoea factsheet for more information.

When you return

Seek medical attention if you are unwell after returning from your trip. Remember to tell your nurse, doctor, or other healthcare provider about your recent travel. Wait for 48 hours after symptoms stop, before going back to school or work.

Advice for health professionals

If a returning traveller presents with gastrointestinal symptoms, consider a range of possible diagnoses, including testing for bacterial, viral and protozoal infections. Testing should be arranged through local microbiology laboratories and positive cases reported to your local health protection team.