Infection Control Measures

Treat all body fluids (such as diarrhea, vomit, or blood) like they are infectious.
Handwashing is the single most important infection control measure.
- Wash hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after assisting sick travelers or touching potentially contaminated body fluids or surfaces. Also, wash hands when visibly soiled.
- Use alcohol-based hand rub (containing at least 60% alcohol) if soap and water are not available.
- Avoid touching your mouth, eyes, and nose with unwashed or gloved hands.

Protect yourself by using PPE, when tending to a sick individual. After use, PPE must be carefully removed to avoid contaminating your skin or clothing. Soiled items must be placed in a biohazard bag (or plastic bag labeled “biohazard” if biohazard bag not available).
Always wash hands or use an alcohol-based hand rub after removing PPE.

Wear disposable gloves when:
- tending to a sick traveler
- touching body fluids (such as blood, vomit, or diarrhea)
- touching potentially contaminated surfaces, such as in bathrooms
Remove gloves carefully to avoid contaminating yourself or your clothing.
Properly dispose soiled gloves in a biohazard bag (or plastic bag labeled biohazard if none available); do not reuse gloves.
After removing gloves, wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

Facemasks should be considered:
- when you are helping a sick individual with respiratory symptoms such as coughing or sneezing
- for sick individuals to help reduce the spread of respiratory germs
- for people sitting near sick travelers (with respiratory symptoms) when the sick traveler cannot tolerate wearing a mask
Facemasks are NOT needed:
- for a sick individual complaining of nausea or vomiting. This could result in choking or a blocked airway.
- for sick individual who can’t tolerate a facemask or refuse one. In this case, ask individual to cover their coughs or sneezes.