Image: Taking basic health precautions plays an important role in safe travel. (Photo credit: Cottonbro Studio/Pexels)
Canadian health officials have issued a fresh travel warning for people visiting Greece, Italy, Spain, and China. The alert focuses on Visceral Leishmaniasis, a serious illness spread by infected sandflies.
The updated advisory states that the risk to most travellers remains low. However, officials urge visitors to learn about the disease and take basic precautions, especially in rural areas.
What Travellers Should Know
Health authorities explain that the illness comes from a parasite that spreads through sandfly bites. These tiny insects live close to the ground and remain most active between sunset and sunrise. While the disease can affect anyone, people with weaker immune systems face a greater risk.
Symptoms often appear weeks or months after a bite, but in some cases they can take years to show up. Warning signs include fever, weight loss, an enlarged liver or spleen, and changes in blood levels. Officials warn that the illness can become life-threatening if left untreated.
Where the Risk Is Higher
Although the current alert mentions several European countries and China, the illness more commonly appears in regions such as Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia, India, Nepal, South Sudan, and Sudan. Rural communities in these areas face higher exposure due to the environment where sandflies thrive.
How to Stay Safe
Experts recommend simple but effective steps to reduce the risk of infection. Travellers should sleep in air-conditioned rooms when possible. When outdoors or in basic accommodations, they should use bed nets treated with special insect repellent, as regular nets may not stop sandflies.
Travellers should also avoid setting up tents near animal burrows, as some animals can carry the parasite. Sleeping on raised platforms rather than directly on the ground also helps lower exposure.
No Vaccine Yet
No vaccine or preventive medication currently exists for this illness. Health officials urge anyone who develops symptoms after travelling to affected areas to contact a doctor and mention their travel history. Early diagnosis and treatment significantly improve recovery.
Advice for Travellers
While officials consider the overall risk low, they stress that awareness and preparation matter. By taking simple precautions and watching for symptoms, travellers can greatly reduce their risk.
