Going to China? Beware of the dogs

Dog bites, respiratory infections and diarrhea have been some of the biggest health threats to travelers to China in the past 10 years, says an international research team that examined surveillance data collected from travel and tropical-medicine clinics worldwide.

Relatively minor injuries, like muscle strains and joint sprains, have also been common among visitors to China -- possibly related to relatively low construction and safety standards in some public places, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Nina Marano, of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

On the other hand, she and her colleagues found, only rarely have travelers become infected with a tropical or parasitic disease.

"Many international travelers worry about exotic diseases," Marano said in a statement issued by the CDC. "They probably don't think about injuries or dog bites, but the study found that travelers to China sought treatment for these ailments more often."

"Travelers need to be cautious about dog bites," Marano added, "as China has the second highest rate of human rabies cases in the world."

According to the CDC, travelers can help ensure a safe trip by taking some precautions. This includes making sure all vaccinations are up-to- date and visiting a travel-medicine clinic to get some professional advice before the trip.

While in China, the CDC says, travelers should "avoid all animals." Anyone who is bitten by an animal should wash the wound promptly and seek reliable medical care.

The agency also encourages travelers to wash their hands frequently to lessen the risk of contracting a respiratory or gastrointestinal infection. To further cut the risk of diarrheal illnesses, travelers should also eat only fully cooked, hot meals, and fruits and vegetables that they wash and peel themselves.