CHECK Nord #2
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ENGLISH<br />
ADVERTORIAL<br />
PROPHYLAXIS COUNSELING<br />
BEFORE TRAVELLING<br />
visit the medical laboratory<br />
There is a great longing for unknown countries and exciting cultures. Especially<br />
now after a pandemic-related travel stop for over a year. Slowly, we are carefully<br />
starting to make plans again in order to get out of that daily grind, to become a<br />
globetrotter, to experience something extraordinary. But be careful: those extraordinary<br />
experiences should not include some rather nasty and health-endangering<br />
„souvenirs“. In addition to the new Corona variants, there are a lot more diseases<br />
that you can catch; most of them are invisible and have goosebumps-causing names<br />
such as hepatitis, malaria, yellow and dengue fever, Ebola, Zika or Lassa virus.<br />
Vaccinations and drugs are available against<br />
some dangerous pathogens, but not against<br />
others. The most important thing before any<br />
long-haul trip is to find out about the specific<br />
health risks in the country of destination. Then<br />
you should check your vaccination status and<br />
get advice on suitable protective measures.<br />
A medical laboratory is a good place to go for<br />
that.<br />
YOU CAN DO WITHOUT SOME<br />
“TRAVEL SOUVENIRS”<br />
While travelling there is often more than just<br />
“Montezuma’s revenge”, the bacterial and<br />
life-threatening traveler’s diarrhea from tropical<br />
regions. It is pretty likely that travelers will<br />
come into contact with dangerous germs that<br />
are still largely unknown in their part of the<br />
world. Basic protection against tetanus, diphtheria,<br />
rabies, polio, and thrombosis prophylaxis,<br />
what many forget about on long-haul<br />
flights, should not be ignored. It is very easy to<br />
prepare yourself and to check your vaccination<br />
status: make an appointment in a medical<br />
laboratory – such as at Labor Dr. Heidrich &<br />
Kollegen in Hamburg – and get extensive information,<br />
advice and, if necessary, vaccinations<br />
from a laboratory doctor, immunologist or<br />
microbiologist.<br />
INTERVIEW WITH<br />
DR. JENS<br />
HEIDRICH<br />
Is it normal to be going<br />
to the medical laboratory<br />
before travel?<br />
Many people don’t yet<br />
know that you can<br />
come to us directly and without a doctor’s referral.<br />
We laboratory doctors are specialists and<br />
well versed in matters of pathogens as well as<br />
defense and treatment strategies. Our area of <br />
expertise also includes medical advice before<br />
a long-haul trip and diagnosis of subsequent<br />
symptoms of illness. As a rule, travel prophylaxis<br />
must be paid for by yourself, unless there is a<br />
recommendation from the Ständigen Impfkommission<br />
(Vaccination Commission, www.<br />
auswaertiges-amt.de/de/ReiseUndSicherheit).<br />
If in doubt, ask your health insurance company.<br />
26 <strong>CHECK</strong> NORD <strong>#2</strong>
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