Table of Contents
- Overview
- Prevention
- Images
Alternative Names
Travelers' health; Infectious diseases and travelers
Information
The best way to stay healthy during travel is to prepare before you leave and take appropriate preventive measures while traveling. Different areas of the world have different diseases and require different precautions. Factors that contribute to these differences include:
- Local climate
- Native insects
- Parasites
- Sanitation
The best public sources for up-to-date travel information are the:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) -- www.cdc.gov/travel
- World Health Organization (WHO) -- www.who.int/en
BEFORE TRAVEL
Talk to your health care provider or visit a travel clinic 4 - 6 weeks before you leave for your trip. You may need a series of pre-travel vaccinations. Some vaccines need time to become effective.
Depending on the destination, updating or "boosting" routine vaccinations is sometimes recommended. Examples of routine vaccinations include:
- Diphtheria
- Measles - mumps - rubella (
MMR ) Polio - Tetanus
You also may need other vaccines for diseases that are not commonly found in North America. Examples of recommended vaccines include:
Hepatitis A Hepatitis B Meningococcal - Typhoid
Certain countries have required vaccinations. You may need proof of vaccination to enter the country.
Yellow fever vaccination is required to enter several Sub-Saharan, Central African, and South American countries. Meningococcal vaccination is required to enter Saudi Arabia for the Hajj pilgrimage. For a complete list of country requirements, check the CDC or WHO web sites.
People who may have different vaccine requirements include:
Review Date: 01/10/2010
Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of
Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of
Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director,
A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
