A couple of alarming news items in the International Travel and Health Insurance Journal published earlier this year, the first stated that there has been a significant rise in the number of tick-borne disease cases in the US apparently reported cases have doubled in the last 13 years. Increased from 22,000 in 2004 to 48,000 in 2016. Lyme disease was found to account for 82% of all tick-borne disease reports during this period. To protect themselves from ticks, travellers should use effective repellents and treat their clothing and gear with permethrin, a type of insecticide.
The second article seen recently in the ITHJ states that some parents are failing to ensure family trips. They quoted “ that in a study from Co-op insurance in the UK, while 37 %of parents have experienced a child falling ill or being injured while on a holiday, 48% do not take out a travel insurance for family holidays. The average travel insurance claim for a sick or injured child is £606, although some claims can total several thousand pounds. Despite this, nearly 50% of parents do not ensure their families for holidays.
The top five injuries children tend to suffer on holiday, according to parents are cuts, insect bites, bruises, sprained wrists and bumped heads. The top five illnesses are stomach bugs, flu, chicken pox, food poisoning and ear infections.”