This case study is about a team leader taking a group overseas.

Andrew was starting to make plans for a trip to east Africa in 12 months time, with 20 young people going on a gap year programme. They would be away for 3 months, visiting a developing project, involving the hands-on care of orphans, white water rafting and climbing Mt Kilimanjaro.

Andrew was keen to find out as much health information as possible, so he could carefully brief the team and reassure worried friends and relatives of those going on the trip.
His main need was for a health information site which could provide country-specific information on each of the countries they planned to visit, ideally from the viewpoint of the long-term adventure traveller.

He was especially keen to know if and when they would need antimalarials, what immunisations were advised for this specific trip, and any recommendations about surviving high altitude. He was aware that at least four team members had pre-existing medical conditions that might have an impact on whether or not they could travel.

He consulted THAC and found the information he needed. This included the distribution of malaria for the three countries they would be visiting, the contents and numbers of health kits they would need, and a ready reckoner to calculate the number of specific items that would be necessary for 20 people going for three months to these locations.

Because fewer GPs are now providing specialist vaccination services Andrew was keen to know exactly what was recommended by travel experts for this complex trip.

rabies? hepatitis B? meningitis?

The THAC summary list for each country sheet was helpful, but he was also able to click on to a detailed sheet for each vaccination, enabling him to draw up a list of the vaccines that would be needed for the entire team.

Distributing Information

Over the next few weeks Andrew sent out health information to those who had signed up for the trip. He was able to do this in a way which fitted in with his own style and that of the organisation he worked with, confident that this was based on reliable information.
There were few calls from parents, but those who did have concerns were directed to THAC where they could have their questions answered.
Two months before leaving Andrew wanted to make sure there was no further information or details of new disease outbreaks he should know about. On THAC, two things came up.

• An outbreak of Ebola in a remote area and an increase in the number of dengue fever cases.
He was able to get the information he needed. He emailed an update to all team members and was pleased to receive two calls from grateful parents for the extra trouble he had taken.
Andrew and the team left as planned, taking with them essential medicines and kits they had ordered online at InterHealth. He was delighted (and surprised) to discover that all of his team had completed their immunisations on time.

Accessing THAC whist away

The trip went as planned until the third week when despite the precautions they had taken, several members came down with severe diarrhoea. Andrew was able to access THAC from an Internet café, and confirm, first that there was no cholera present which had been a concern, and second to download key information about the treatment they should be taking and what the indications were for needing to consult a doctor.

He was reminded there was further information in the copy of The Travellers Good Health Guide which he had had taken with them as recommended on the THAC site. Andrew knew he could always email or phone InterHealth if he was seriously worried but in this case he didn't have to because he found what he need on the site.

Two weeks before the end of the trip Andrew discussed what medical care they might need when they got home. He had consulted THAC to find out who if any would need a routine medical. He also confirmed the details of the counselling that was available for two members of the team he sensed had been struggling with a number of personal issues which had surfaced in the close team setting.