Rates of international travel have continued to grow substantially in the past decade according to the Centers for Disease Control (2012). The World Tourism Organization stated that there were an “estimated 880 million international tourist arrivals in 2009 throughout the world”. Reasons for travel vary including tourism, business, studying abroad, research, visiting family and friends, ecotourism, adventure, medical mission work, or responding to an international disaster. Today’s travelers range from the young to the old and their health conditions are diverse including those with pre-existing medical conditions. All travelers should prepare and plan for their trip well in advance.
“The risks of becoming ill or injured during international travel depends on many factors, such as the region of the world visited, a traveler’s age and health status, the length of the trip, and the diversity of planned activities.”
– CDC 2012
Infectious disease risks that travelers can encounter are dynamic. While some travel destinations have become safer, others, unfortunately, may have seen new diseases emerge or other diseases have reemerged.
International travel requires careful planning. The traveler needs to understand the health risks that traveling internationally may pose and be actively involved in preparing for healthy travel.
The traveler should:
A 30 minute Travel Consultation with a registered nurse that includes:
* Travel consultations and vaccinations are typically not covered Insurance benefits and therefore payment in-full for services must be made on the date of service. We will provide you an itemized receipt to submit for reimbursement if you chose to do so.
* Prescriptions also available for Traveler’s Diarrhea, Altitude Illness, and prevention of Malaria.
Schedule your appointment today. Pre-travel consultations should be scheduled as soon as possible due to several vaccinations requiring two or more doses to develop adequate resistance to the disease. Prepare wisely for a safe trip!