Summer is peak travel season and whether you’re heading to a tropical beach, a bustling city or a remote destination, a little preparation can help keep your trip memorable for the right reasons.
Before traveling internationally, check the latest health recommendations for your destination on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Traveler’s Health website, Travelers can search by country to learn about required or recommended vaccines, current disease outbreaks, food and water safety concerns and other important health notices.
Many vaccines take several weeks to take effect, so it’s best to schedule them at least four to six weeks before your trip. You can get these travel vaccines at the Polk County Health Department, specialized travel clinics or certain retail pharmacies.
Consider checking whether your health insurance policy covers medical care abroad. If not, you may want to purchase additional travel health insurance to cover any high medical costs you might run into. You can purchase these plans online through travel booking sites or directly from insurance providers.
It’s also nice to have a small travel health kit on hand just in case. When packing one, include prescriptions in their original containers, pain relievers, hand sanitizer, sunscreen, insect repellent, bandages and oral rehydration salts. Travelers might also want to bring over-the-counter medications for allergies, motion sickness or diarrhea.
While abroad, you will want to take extra precautions to avoid illnesses caused by contaminated food or water. To reduce the risk, drink bottled or treated water, avoid ice if water safety is uncertain and choose foods that are thoroughly cooked and served hot. Raw seafood, unwashed fruits and vegetables and food from questionable street vendors might increase the risk of illness.
After returning home, travelers should pay attention to symptoms that could signal an infection picked up abroad. Fever, persistent diarrhea, vomiting, rash, shortness of breath or unusual fatigue should not be ignored, especially if symptoms develop soon after travel. Anyone feeling sick after an international trip should contact their healthcare provider right away.
Natalie Del Vecchio is the community health educator in the Dallas County Public Health Department.