If You Get Sick After Travelling

Canadians have a responsibility to protect their health while they are outside Canada. They must make sure they don’t bring home diseases that could affect the health of others.

Upon your return to Canada, if you are ill with a disease that can be transmitted to others, you must tell a customs officer or a quarantine officer. The officer will decide whether you require further medical assessment. You must also tell the officer if you have been near someone with a disease that could be spread to others.

See a nurse, doctor or health care provider if you get sick after you return to Canada, or if you were sick while you were away. Tell your health care provider that you have been outside Canada, which countries you have visited, and what medical care you received (e.g. blood transfusions, injections, dental care, or surgery).

Malaria

If you have been taking medication to prevent malaria while travelling, you must continue to take it until it is finished, even after you return to Canada.

If you have been to an area where malaria occurs and you develop a fever within a year of returning home, tell your nurse, doctor or health care provider immediately. This is especially important if your fever develops in the first three months after you return home.

If you get sick, you may need a blood test to confirm that you do not have malaria. Taking anti-malarial medication doesn’t guarantee that you will not get malaria.

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