Travel Tips for the Summer Include Advice on How International Travelers Can Say Good-bye to ‘Montezuma's Revenge’

Marietta, Ga. (PRWEB) May 27, 2009 – Travel tips (www.travelan.org) that help people avoid getting Montezuma’s Revenge add value to any international travel itinerary. International travelers should generally be careful about what they eat and drink; however, Travelan®, a clinically-tested product that contains antibodies against Enterotoxigenic e.coli (ETEC) bacteria attacks, can help and is now available in the U.S. through Alaven Consumer Healthcare.

e.coli (ETEC) is most frequently found in tourist destinations such as Mexico, Latin America, South America, India, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. Travelan is the only non-prescription product specifically formulated to reduce the risk of Montezuma's Revenge.

Infection with e.coli (ETEC) is the leading cause of travelers' diarrhea (TD) - often referred to as "Montezuma's Revenge," "Delhi Belly," "Bali Belly" or "Traveler's Trots" - and is the most common illness affecting travelers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), each year between 20-50 percent of international travelers - an estimated 10 million people - develop diarrhea while traveling.

E.coli (ETEC) produces toxins that stimulate the lining of the intestines to secrete excessive fluid. In a controlled, double-blind, clinical study, Travelan provided 93 percent protection against E.coli (ETEC).

E.coli (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escherichia_coli) (ETEC) is acquired through food, water or ice contaminated with the bacteria including tap water; food or drinks prepared in unhygienic conditions, including street vendors; raw or undercooked meat and seafood; raw fruits and vegetables (unless peeled by the traveler); and unpasteurized milk and dairy products.

Strictly adhering to these simple travel tips is recommended:

*Drink bottled water.

Also use bottled water to brush your teeth and always check the seal on the bottle (1).

*Avoid ice.

Avoid ice in cool drinks as freezing does not kill anything (1). Mexico, in particular, is known for attractive blended drinks like the margarita. Ice may also be made from unbottled water and result in Travelers’ Diarrhea, so such drinks should be avoided.

*Be vigilant about sanitary practices.

Be aware of poor sanitary practices as germs could be on your plate, eating utensils, food, etc. Be cautious eating foods or getting drinks from street vendors (1) or that local, “out-of-the-way” place.

*Exercise caution with uncooked foods.

Beware of uncooked food including salads and fruit that you cannot peel (1). This is one of the most overlooked of travel tips.

*Keep medications on your person or in your purse.

When traveling from place to place, keep important medications with you so they can be taken when advised (2). For example, Travelan should be taken before any meal or snack to neutralize the harmful E.coli (ETEC) bacteria, which inhibits them from attaching to the intestinal wall.

*Contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in case of emergency.

Consular personnel at U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad and in the United States are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to provide emergency assistance to U.S. citizens. Keep this contact information easily accessible. Get information for U.S. Embassies and Consulates on the Bureau of Consular Affairs website at http://travel.state.gov (3).

"Whether you're an adventure traveler, you're taking the family on that long-awaited vacation or honeymooning, you want to spend your time seeing the sights and enjoying time off, not being sick," said David Swenson, general manager and head of Alaven Consumer Healthcare. "Travelan helps you make the most of your travels by preventing E.coli (ETEC) infection, not just treating it after it occurs."

Travelan is available in single, family, honeymoon and group packs through www.travelan.org or 1-800-470-7902 for $49.99 for 30 caplets, which is less than $5 a day for a 10-day trip. Travelan has been available in Australia since 2006 and has been used by over 100,000 travelers. Alaven Consumer Healthcare established a North American distribution agreement and strategic investment with Immuron of Australia in December 2008. For more information on travel tips (www.travelan.org) for international travelers, visit the Web site.

About Alaven Consumer Healthcare, Inc.

Alaven Consumer Healthcare, Inc. is a privately-held consumer health company located in Marietta, Ga., and a sister company to Alaven Pharmaceutical LLC, which develops and markets gastroenterological and women's health prescription products. Among the products Alaven Consumer Healthcare manufactures and distributes are Travelan®, Balneol®, Bifera™ and UniFiber®.

(1) Travelers' Diarrhea. Retrieved March 31st, 2009, from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site:

http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dbmd/diseaseinfo/travelersdiarrhea_g.htm

(2) Hamm, C (2007, September 19). Tips on traveling overseas with your medication. Los Angeles Times, Retrieved March 31, 2009, from http://travel.latimes.com/articles/la-trw-spot23sep23.

(3) Tips for Traveling Abroad. Retrieved March 31st, 2009, from U.S. Department of State Web site:

http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/tips_1232.html

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