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National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious DiseasesDivision of Global Migration and Quarantine

World Youth Day 2013: Advice for Group Leaders

Are you taking a group to Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day this year? Here’s a checklist of some things to think about to keep your flock safe and healthy during the trip.

Before You Go ● Has everyone in your group had their travel vaccines?

Most people traveling to Brazil should be vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid. Travelers should also be up-to-date on their routine vaccinations. If they will be visiting other parts of Brazil, some travelers may also need protection against yellow fever and malaria.

● Does anyone in your group have a preexisting medical condition? People can have “invisible” health conditions, such as diabetes or asthma, and seem perfectly healthy. But the stress and excitement of travel can cause the condition to worsen suddenly, especially if the person gets caught up in the event and forgets to take any regular medicines. Make sure you know if anyone in your group has health issues and what you should do in an emergency. Remind your group members to pack a supply of any medicines they take regularly (as much as they think they’ll need, plus a little extra, in case of travel delays).

● Do you know where to go for emergency medical attention? Quick—someone in your group just got hit by a car. What do you do? Don’t call 911; call 192. In Brazil, 192 is the emergency telephone number for an ambulance, and 190 is the number for the police, although these services are in Portuguese only. Group members who think they might need medical care in Brazil should check with their insurance companies—most will not cover the cost of care received outside the United States—and, if necessary, consider purchasing travel health insurance. (Some travel groups may also cover medical care for group members.)

● Do you know where to go for non-emergency medical attention? Cuts, scrapes, and miscellaneous boo-boos are probably inevitable. Where do you go if there’s no first-aid station nearby? If you’ve packed a travel health kit, you may be able to take care of it yourself. If not, make sure you know the Portuguese words for “bandage,” “Pepto-Bismol,” and other supplies you can get at a farmácia.

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While You’re There ● Do you know where those hands have been?

Most likely, you won’t have to deal with someone in your group getting seriously ill in Rio, but minor ailments like head colds and diarrhea are real possibilities. One of the best ways to prevent these is by making sure your group members keep their hands clean. Take lots of hand sanitizer with you, and make sure everyone uses it.

● Can I eat this? Travelers’ diarrhea is the most common illness among travelers, so emphasize to your group members the need to follow food and water precautions. In spite of your best efforts, however, some people are going to get sick, so it’s a good idea for travelers to take an over-the-counter medicine for diarrhea and, possibly, a prescription antibiotic they can get from their doctor.

● Where did all these bugs come from? Since it’s a tropical country, you’re going to encounter a lot of bugs in Brazil, and some of them, particularly mosquitoes, could be carrying diseases such as dengue. Travelers should bring plenty of insect repellent and use it liberally, especially when outdoors.

● Is this city crowded, or what? There could be up to 4 million extra people in Rio for World Youth Day, and some of the events are going to be crazy crowded. Try to keep your group out of the most densely crowded areas, and always know where emergency exits are. Also remember to keep an eye out for pickpockets in crowds.

When You Get HomeCongratulations! You got your group home safely—pat yourself on the back, but there’s still a little bit of follow-up that needs to be done.

● Did anyone get sick over there? If so, he or she might need to make an appointment with his or her regular doctor for follow-up care.

● Did anyone get sick after coming home? It’s probably not a big deal, but some travel-related illnesses could be serious, especially if there’s a fever. Any post-travel illnesses should be reported to the person’s regular doctor, and the doctor should be told that the person has just returned from Brazil.

That’s it! Follow these guidelines, and you’ll go a long way toward keeping your group safe and healthy during World Youth Day 2013. For more information, visit: http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices/watch/world-youth-day-2013.