Bali and other destinations in Southeast Asia have become very popular among Latvian tourists in recent years. Travelers who've been there may be familiar with the phrase Bali Belly, which although sounds like a hoot, is actually causing a lot of distress and financial loss for travelers.
Also known as Montezuma's Revenge or Rangoon Runs, Bali Belly is a common travel sickness caused by contaminated food or water and resulting in diarrhea. The disease often manifests itself as abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting, overall weakness and pain. In the best cases, the symptoms disappear within a day, but they can last up to four or five days. In weaker people, the disease can even be fatal, as it causes severe dehydration.
"The disease is particularly prevalent on the island of Bali in Indonesia and other tropical destinations. It can cause both physical discomfort and financial losses that can mount up to thousands," says Underwriting & Product Management Lead in Latvia Renārs Duntavs.
He points out that travelers from Latvia often catch Bali Belly. This year there have already been several insurance cases where travelers ask reimbursement for medication and treatment, as they've had to visit local doctors due to severe pain and dehydration. "In addition to paying for medical treatment, some have also incurred costs for return flight cancellations, extended hotel stays and other related costs. For example, Balcia recently had a case where flight and hotel cancellations caused a total loss of almost €3 000," says Renārs Duntavs.
In most cases, the disease is caused by bacteria found in tap water or unprocessed foods. Here are a few tips that may help you avoid any holiday angst:
- Don't drink tap water – not even while brushing your teeth. It is safer to use bottled water.
- Don't order drinks with ice, as local restaurants and bars often use tap water to make ice cubes.
- Don't buy peeled fruit. Instead choose fruit that you can peel yourself to make sure it has not come into contact with disease-causing bacteria.
- Avoid eating raw food. For example, lettuce is often washed with tap water and even the lettuce leaf in a burger can be contaminated, so it is better to choose cooked food.
- Drink plenty of (bottled) water and disinfect your hands.
- Buy travel insurance. Balcia's travel insurance covers medical treatment, bookings and flight cancellations, as well as other illness-related costs.
Finally, the Balcia expert adds "If you do get sick, make sure to keep all bills and receipts related to your medication and treatment, and to inform your insurance company as soon as possible so that you can be reimbursed for these costs."
Balcia offers travel insurance that is valid 24/7 anywhere in the world, while the Balcia mobile app offers a quick and easy way to buy travel insurance that is valid from the moment of purchase and to submit claims that will be reimbursed within 5 days max!
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