Few travel nightmares compare to falling ill before a long journey. Stitching a video of a traveller who contracted food poisoning at an airport right before a 10-hour flight, US-based gastroenterologist and health content creator Dr Joseph Salhab shared advice on how travellers can protect themselves against GI distress while on the go. Also read | Falling sick every monsoon? Gastroenterologist shares 5 common digestive problems, warning signs and preventive tips
In a post shared on Instagram on July 29, Dr Salhab — who specialises in digestion, liver health, pancreas health, and nutrition — unpacked the primary transmission routes of stomach bugs and the practical habits travellers should adopt to lower their risk.
'People's poop is on everything we touch'
To prevent foodborne illness, travellers first need to understand how it spreads. Dr Salhab shared that standard hand hygiene goes deeper than just washing off surface dirt. "Most stomach bugs are passed faecal-oral," Dr Salhab said in the video he posted.
"So that means that people's poop is on everything we touch. We're talking about door handles, elevator buttons, shopping carts, grocery store items — so wash your hands right before you eat, ideally with soap and water," he explained.
