Travel Tips

Travel Tip: How You Can Track the Spread of Contagious Diseases

measlesWhether the news is about Ebola or measles outbreaks, it’s no wonder people are practically afraid to even leave the house these days.

I’m here to tell you it’s probably not necessary to barricade yourself at home, but it is worth arming yourself with the right information before you travel.

Communicable diseases are always a concern for travelers and you should definitely talk to your doctor if your immune system is compromised in any way.

You can also check out tracking systems to see where certain diseases are being recorded around the globe, and where the hotspots are.

Healthmap.org shows where diseases like influenza, measles, and Ebola have appeared around the world in the past week.

The Council on Foreign Relations has a global map of vaccine-preventable diseases, like measles, polio, and whooping cough, and shows whether it’s a cluster or an outright epidemic.

Plus, don’t forget about the CDC’s Yellow Book and app, which is a comprehensive guide to diseases endemic in every country, and recommendations on how you can protect yourself before traveling.

For more information on contagious diseases, visit the Travel Health Archives.

Keep reading for more travel tips.