Disease warning to Asia-bound schoolies SCHOOLIES are warned about the dangers of unprotected sex, drugs and alcohol abroad, but need as much education about contracting diseases such as rabies, doctors say. Travel Medicine Alliance spokeswoman Doctor Deb Mills says teenagers heading for Bali and other parts of Asia should make sure they have had all vaccination shots. They should also seek proper advice before leaving, with too many relying on second-hand information from friends or websites like Wikipedia. "These diseases are a bit like an earthquake - very rare but completely devastating," she said. A lot of kids are taking advice from friends. There have been deaths from rabies in people who have gone travelling for two weeks. A recent University of New South Wales survey of 2000 travellers found almost 70 per cent didn't seek pre-travel health advice. Hepatitis A, malaria and dengue fever are among the dangerous diseases they are at risk of contracting. Hep A - which is not part of the routine vaccination program - can be contacted from contaminated food, or touching surfaces like door handles and money. "Schoolies who contract hepatitis A may find it very challenging to start university on time, but having one hepatitis A vaccine covers you for your trip," Dr Mills added. Risk can be cut by the most basic precautions like mosquito repellent. The most common travel sickness - diarrhoea - is less serious but could still put a dampener on your holiday, Dr Mills says. She advised schoolies to take medical kits with them. Avoiding diseases abroad also cuts the risk of bringing them home. Recent outbreaks of measles in Queensland, which is officially clear of the disease, have been blamed on travellers returning from Asia.