International travellers face an increasing and serious risk of infection from a number of highly contagious diseases including HIV and Hepatitis. Too many people assume that these diseases are only contracted either through sexual contact or from drug abuse. Whilst this is still possible, there is another, very real way of coming into contact with potentially lethal diseases. In many countries, the sterility of some medical equipment is not guaranteed.
This means that the most common of medical treatments, such as a visit to the dentist or doctor can present a considerable risk to the traveller. There have been a number of cases highlighted in the press where patients have contracted such diseases through instrument contamination.
