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Tourists 'risking health by missing vaccinations'

BRITISH holidaymakers are risking their health by not being vaccinated or taking anti-malaria pills when they go abroad.

A growing number of people have visited tropical countries in the past five years without taking recommended vaccinations.

One in six Britons who have been to countries where malaria is prevalent did not taken any anti-malaria pills with them, according to a study of 2,200 people by Direct Line Travel Insurance.

The report said there appeared to be "widespread ignorance" of the need to take medical precautions when visiting tropical countries.

Almost one in five of those who did not have vaccinations and did not even vaccinate their children said they were unaware that they were needed.

Many of those questioned admitted they did not take any medicines with them when travelling and one in five said they simply did not believe they would catch a disease.

Chris Price, business manager at Direct Line Travel Insurance, said: "The last decade has seen a steady increase in travel to Asia, Africa and South America, destinations where serious diseases including malaria are common.

"Despite this, or maybe because of it, people are effectively gambling with their health."

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