Keeping safe while travelling

HIV infection and AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) is found throughout the world. Travellers should take precautions against HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), which include using condoms for safe sex; not having tattoos, piercings or medical procedures done overseas unless under sterile conditions; not sharing needles for injecting drug use; and avoiding blood products or transfusions overseas if possible. People with conditions such as diabetes should take their own supply of sterile needles for insulin.

How is HIV transmitted?

HIV infection is preventable. HIV is transmitted through unprotected sex with an infected partner; use of infected needles, syringes, medical and dental instruments or anything else that pierces the skin; transfusions of infected blood or blood components; and from an infected woman to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding.

HIV is not transmitted through casual contact, air, food, water, inanimate objects such as crockery, or mosquito or other insect bites. Sharing transport such as an aeroplane, car, boat, bus or train with a person with AIDS or HIV infection does not pose a risk of infection for the crew or other passengers.

Medical standards can differ

HIV/AIDS is found throughout the world. Your risk of HIV infection depends less on your travel destination and more on whether you engage in risky behaviour, such as unprotected sex and needle sharing. However, travellers should be aware that medical standards may be lower in some countries, and equipment may not be adequately sterilised, nor blood screened for HIV and hepatitis A and hepatitis B, so that HIV can be transmitted during medical and dental care.

Risky behaviours

Travellers are at risk if they:

• have sex (heterosexual or same-sex; vaginal, oral or anal) with an infected person
• use or allow the use of contaminated, unsterilised syringes or needles for any injections or other skin-piercing procedures, including acupuncture, steroid or vitamin injections, medical or dental procedures, ear or body piercing, tattooing, or illicit drug use
• receive infected blood, blood components or clotting factor concentrates (HIV infection by this route is rare in countries or cities where donated blood and plasma are screened for HIV antibodies)
• receive organ or tissue transplantation or artificial insemination from an infected donor.

Protection against HIV infection

Sex: To protect against HIV infection, travellers should avoid sex with people who are infected with HIV or whose HIV infection status is unknown. People with higher risk of HIV infection include injecting drug users and those who have multiple sexual partners, such as male and female sex workers.

Condoms: Male and female condoms, when used consistently and correctly, reduce transmission of HIV. People who do have vaginal, anal or oral-genital intercourse with anyone who is infected with HIV or whose infection status is unknown, such as a new partner, should use a condom every time. It may be advisable to pack your own condoms as they may not be easily available or of satisfactory quality when you are travelling.
 
Needles: In many countries, needle sharing by injecting drug users is a major mode of transmission for HIV and other infections such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Don’t share needles for injecting drug use or any other purpose.

Skin piercing: Don’t have acupuncture treatment, ear or body piercing, or tattooing unless you are sure the equipment is sterile.

Medical conditions: If you require frequent injections (eg, insulin injections for diabetes), take an adequate supply of your own sterile needles and syringes. Also, if you have a condition such as haemophilia that means you need blood products regularly, discuss its management with your doctor before you travel.

Transfusions: Blood transfusions should be given only when necessary and should use screened blood from HIV-negative donors.

Original content from myDr, 2009. Edited by everybody, October 2011.