Traveler's health

              While it’s fun to bring back souvenirs from vacations and other travels, one souvenir nobody wants is an infectious disease. It is important to research and plan ahead when travelling, especially outside the United States. Use these resources to be prepared before you leave home:
CDC’s Travelers’ Health website provides current information about common diseases and food and water safety by country/region at www.cdc.gov/travel/. CDC’s Travel Health Notices website provides specific information about outbreaks, natural disasters and emerging health threats at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/notices.
General Tips for Staying Healthy When You Travel Clean your hands often. Use soap and water when your hands are plainly dirty, otherwise using an alcohol based hand gel is enough. Important times to clean your hands are: After using the bathroom or changing a diaper; before preparing or eating food; after blowing your nose, sneezing, or coughing; after caring for a sick person; and after touching an animal. Prevent spreading germs to others. Cover your mouth or nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Immediately put used tissue in the waste basket, and then clean your hands. If a tissue isn’t available, use your upper sleeve to cover your cough or sneeze. When you cough or sneeze into your hands, clean your hands immediately. Otherwise you will spread germs to everything and everyone you touch. Be aware that others’ respiratory droplets may be infectious. Stay 3 to 6 feet away from coughing and sneezing people if possible. Environmental objects and surfaces that look clean can have disease-causing germs. Your best defense it to clean your hands frequently. Get plenty of rest and drink plenty of water to help your immune system. Be careful around all wild animals and domestic animals unfamiliar to you. If you are bitten, clean the wound with soap and water and consult a clinician for further evaluation. Enjoy wild animals with your eyes, not by touching them. Check to see if your vaccinations are current, and find out if any others are recommended based on your travel destination. This includes tetanus, hepatitis A, etc. If you have a special health condition (e.g. diabetes or seizure disorder), wear a medical alert tag such as a bracelet or carry the information with you in case of an emergency. Put together a traveler’s health kit including: Enough of your prescribed medications and any medications your physician recommends (including over-the-counter medications) to last through your trip Sunscreen Insect repellant, ideally containing DEET or Picardin Alcohol-based hand gels containing 60 to 95% alcohol to clean your hands when soap and clean water are not readily available If any health issues arise during your trip, contact the local health jurisdiction. If you become ill after you return home, inform your doctor where you traveled.
Traveler's Health
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Public Health
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Public Health
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