Bayside Travel Doctors: Global travels and experienced advice
There are few people as fortunate enough to have seen as much of the world as Bluff Road Medical Centre GP Dr Jason Rajakulendran.
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Jason has visited dozens of countries and explored some of the farthest reaches of the planet. In this article, he shares some of his highlights and explains why it remains important to see a travel doctor before venturing abroad. |
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1) How many countries have you travelled to?
To be honest, I’ve lost count, but I remain grateful for the countless local experiences along the way. It was well over 100 countries and all continents before I started doing travel medicine regularly over 10 years ago.
I’ve always loved travel. Never was there more to see, with it being so easily accessible, than in the last decade. I’ve been fortunate to attend many national and overseas conferences on the topics of travel and wilderness medicine.
2) How old were you when you first started travelling?
I grew up exploring and traveling every few years with my family, but overseas travel was something I found time for during and after university.
| 3) What do you love most about travelling? New cultures, food, and people, and discovering what’s different or more familiar.I love having free time to think, explore and immerse oneself in new experiences. 4) What are the three most exotic locations you’ve travelled to?
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5) What kind of travel medicine issues should one plan for?
Consider issues with food and water, medications/vaccines, infections from mosquitoes and animal bites, rabies. Also, altitude or motion sickness, deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and general cultural and transport safety issues.
6) Why is it so important to see a travel doctor before travelling overseas?
The world remains very different, and access to health care or the availability of services and medications can vary greatly. So, expect the unexpected and consider the convenience of what you may take with you or get vaccinated before departing.
7) Are there any new travel alerts to consider?
COVID-19 remains persistent, so remember to check the current travel rules of each destination and airline carrier.
Monkeypox remains another condition to be aware of, but like other viruses, common-sense and hygiene help reduce risk. It’s another example of infection risks when humans live closer to and interact with wild animal habitats.
Planning an overseas trip?
If you’re heading abroad this summer, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your family from illness.
Book in with our travel doctors for expert advice about the kinds of vaccines you may require, as well as other health risks like Malaria, Zika virus, rabies, diarrhoea, and altitude sickness.
Jason is a certified member of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM), the Australasian College of Tropical Medicine, and is part of the National Travel Medicine Alliance (TMA) network. He coordinates Travel Medicine at Bluff Road Medical and has completed a Master of Public Health (International Health) at Monash University.
To find out more, head to our travel medicine page or book in for a consultation.