Clinical Updates
16 April 2008
Advice for travellers to the UEFA Euro 2008 Championships
In June 2008 Austria and Switzerland will be hosting the 13th UEFA European Football Championships. The Championships take place between 9 and 26 June, with matches being played in Zurich, Basel, Berne and Geneva in Switzerland, and Vienna, Klagenfurt, Salzburg and Innsbruck in Austria.
Detailed information about travel requirements and safety for football fans travelling to the Championships can be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) website at http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travelling-and-living-overseas/ta-relevant-to-you/euro-08/euro08-tips
Advice for travellers
Travel insurance
United Kingdom residents travelling to the Championships should apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). This entitles the traveller to free or reduced cost emergency medical care within the European Economic Area and Switzerland. Further information on the EHIC can be found on the Department of Health website at http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Healthadvicefortravellers/
An EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance; therefore a comprehensive travel insurance policy should also be taken out.
Vaccinations
Measles, mumps and rubella
Since November 2006, Switzerland has been experiencing the largest measles outbreak to be recorded in the country since the introduction of mandatory notification in 1999 [1]. Between November 2006 and 13 February 2008, 1,405 cases of measles were reported, the majority of cases have occurred in north, east and central Switzerland.
As a result of the outbreak, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health has recommended that all foreign visitors to Switzerland receive measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. In the UK, adults born before 1970 are likely to have developed immunity following natural infection. However, all travellers to Switzerland born after 1970 should ensure that they have received a total of two doses of MMR vaccine.
Tick-borne encephalitis
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection of the central nervous system that is transmitted by ticks and is a risk in parts of Austria and Switzerland. Travellers can be exposed to ticks during outdoor activities in areas of vegetation (gardens, parks, forest fringes, meadows and marshes) below 1,400m. Travellers are advised to take insect bite avoidance measures and can consider vaccination if planning outdoor activities such as camping or walking in areas of vegetation primarily in rural areas. TBE can also be transmitted by drinking unpasteurised milk products.
Further information on the risk of TBE in Austria and Switzerland can be found on the NaTHNaC Country Information Page.
Other health risks
Detailed information on other health risks for travellers to Austria and Switzerland can be found on the NaTHNaC Country Information Page.
Reference
1. Measles outbreak in Switzerland - an update relevant for the European football championship (EURO 2008). Euro Surveill 2008;13(8). Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/edition/v13n08/080221_1.asp
Links
NaTHNaC Country Information Page Austria
NaTHNaC Country Information Page Switzerland
Foreign and Commonwealth Office Tips for the Tournament advice for Euro 2008
NaTHNaC Health Information Sheet on Tick-borne encephalitis
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