GOOD 'OLE COMMON SENSE!
for International Travel
HAND
WASHING - Good hand washing prevents many intestinal and respiratory
illness. When traveling particularly, wash your hands as often
as you have the opportunity. Soap and water (even if it is "foreign"
water) rinses many germs off the hands and down the drain. Keeping
hands away from faces - particularly noses, eyes and mouths, will
help prevent spread of disease. Touching souvenirs, shaking hands,
riding animals, etc, are all part of travel but can transmit "bugs"
that all of us want to avoid. Wash your hands. It's good for you!!!
FOOD AND WATER - All food should be eaten hot and well
cooked. Avoid food that is raw or under-cooked, like salads, veggie
platters or uncooked fruit. Heating food destroys bacteria. Food
that is raw or under-cooked can have residual bacteria. Drink
liquids that are processed - bottled 
water,
sodas out of the can. Wine, beer, alcohol have all been processed
in some way and generally do not represent a risk. If you are
unable to get processed drinks, ask for a beverage that has been
heated or, preferably boiled - hot tea, hot coffee, iced tea WITHOUT
the ice. Boiling is the best purifier of water. Avoid using ice
in any beverage. Remember, ice is water. Don't eat food from market
stands, farmers' markets or street vendors. Food handling standards
outside the United States are extremely low, even in well-developed
countries. If you need a snack, choose something processed - unopened
packaged crackers or chips, etc. If you want fruit, choose a banana
which you don't have to wash and can peel yourself.
