The increase in use of the internet in the 1990s was widely predicted to significantly impact on the level of business travel. In fact, with the growth in foreign travel and increasing economic globalisation, together with the expansion of foreign markets, particularly in South East Asia, recent statistics reveal that there were 8.1 million business visits made in 2004*, many to high-risk destinations.

Little data exists on working hours lost through travel-related illness and it seems that many of such illnesses are widely likely under-reported.

The traveller may not see the point in reporting an illness that resolves before returning home, even if the illness has disrupted working hours on the trip. Also, there may be particular reluctance to report an illness that could have been acquired either by risky travel behaviour or by lack of compliance with advice. What is certain is that to fly thousands of miles and then be unable to perform at optimum levels due to travel-related illness is not a cost-effective or desirable situation for traveller or employer.

An employee returning to the UK suffering from illness acquired while abroad on business can also have a negative impact on both company productivity and staff morale. It is clear that both employer and employee have much to gain from ensuring that the risks of contracting travel related illness are, as far as possible, minimised.

To conclude, business trips require self-management of health risk factors and illness, and the traveller must be discouraged from the unrealistic expectation that 'the company' should wholly assume responsibility for his health. Those who travel regularly may have become blase and every pre-travel consultation should be used to increase awareness of risks.

Although some travel-related illness is relatively minor, travellers' diarrhoea for example, and others including hepatitis B, can impact on lives for months or even years after the visit. Others, such as malaria, may only present months after the visit.

Addressing the diverse travel health needs of business travellers can be complex. There is no convenient 'one-size-fits-all’ type of traveller or trip. Each industry has widely varying expectations of employees, and the travel adviser must fully appreciate the health hazards that may arise from each journey, to provide advice relevant to the individual traveller.

*Office for National Statistics (2005) www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_transport/MQ6q4-2004.pdf

Source

Evans, N (2005) ‘Travel with Care’ Occupational Health (8) pp 22-25