Travel Health News

Beware cruise ship bathrooms

Going on a cruise? To cut your risk of getting sick while sailing the high seas, avoid using the ship's public bathrooms.

Bad drivers? Blame their genes

No need to curse that bad driver weaving in and out of the lane in front of you - he cannot help it, US researchers reported.

Traffic calming tactics do work

Speed bumps, lower speed limits, and other so-called "traffic calming" strategies may help reduce traffic-related injuries and deaths, according to a review of published studies.

Long-term travellers risk health

Travel extending beyond six months is associated with health risks not usually encountered among short-term travellers, new data indicate.

Roads may kill more than Aids

South Africa's roads could claim more lives than HIV/Aids and malaria combined by 2020, if accidents are not prevented, Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele said on Sunday.

SMSing drivers a deadly hazard

SMSing while driving increases the risk of a crash much more than previous studies have concluded with motorists taking their eyes off the road longer.

Meningitis kills 333 in Nigeria

A meningitis outbreak in Nigeria has killed 333 people and infected more than 5 300 since December, Health Minister Babatunde Oshotimehin said on Wednesday.

Various risks to long flights

Long-haul flights can be risky for people with certain types of heart and lung conditions, as well as anyone who has had surgery recently, investigators warn.

Pine bark helps with jet lag

Taking a pine bark extract for a few days before a long-haul flight may reduce the severity and duration of jet lag symptoms, new research shows.

Leg pain signals deadly blood clot

Many people are dying of dangerous blood clots that can masquerade as simple leg pain, according to a new campaign urging patients and doctors to recognise the emergency in time.