This past week, a man with a rare and often fatal form of tuberculosis decided to travel on two international flights. Now, several governments are clamoring to find the passengers who were on his flight in order to test them. Instances such as this may be rare, but this particular strain of TB is much more common in other countries than in the U.S. and thinking about this brings up the issue of protecting your health when you travel.

Whenever we plan a trip to a foreign country, it is so important that we research what illnesses and diseases may be prevalent there and the best way to avoid them. Vaccinations may be required or recommended. Special care may be needed when it comes to eating and drinking the water.

A visit to the traveler’s website for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a good start. Here you can look up a country or region and determine what you may need to do to prepare for your trip. Another great idea is to make an appointment at a Passport Health clinic. These medical centers are currently located in 31 states, plus Puerto Rico and they specialize in dealing with travelers’ health needs. They can administer vaccinations, write prescriptions and generally prepare you for health concerns regarding the region you plan to visit.

We can’t foresee every medical problem that might arise while we are travelling, but we can be educated on the best ways to protect ourselves. A little prevention often goes a long way.

Traveler’s Health by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Passport Health