Will travellers listen to warnings?
Travellers from Western Australia are being asked to take part in a study to find out whether or not warnings about infection risks will make them take better care of themselves while they are abroad. The study is being undertaken by the Western Australia Health Department and University of Western Australia, who are using animated videos in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of Bali belly, dengue fever and rabies, all of which are commonly contracted by travellers to the island, as well as the importance of being vaccinated against preventable diseases such as measles. According to the researchers, Western Australian travellers have been chosen for the study as they account for around half of the total number of Aussies heading to Indonesia each year.
Social media is the tool of choice in engaging with travellers, with the researchers hoping to recruit at least 1,500 people over the age of 18 who are travelling to Bali before September. Half the group will be given travel health advice. Upon their return to Australia, the travellers will be asked whether or not they were ill while they were away; if they used mosquito bite prevention methods like insect repellent; ate eggs with runny yolks or already peeled fruit.
Study officials claim that more than 40 per cent of infections acquired by Australian tourists abroad are linked to Bali, with the most commonly reported problems being dengue fever and food poisoning.