Travel Tip: Infectious Disease Prevention When Traveling

If you’ve read the news on infectious diseases, it’s a wonder we ever leave the house! But there are ways to protect yourself, and that starts with information first.

Start by checking resources like the CDC’s Yellow Book, which explains what diseases are prevalent in which countries, recent outbreaks and recommended vaccines.

Online resources like WebMD and Google Health can also provide basic information.

But be careful—there’s no faster route to hypochondria than gathering to MUCH information.

The bottom line is many transmitted diseases can be combated with common sense.

Take dengue fever, for example. It’s become an epidemic in Puerto Rico and is common in other tropical areas like the Caribbean, Hawaii and even Texas.

This is a mosquito-born, so avoid areas with stagnant water, pay attention to sanitation, wear long sleeves, and use bug repellent with 20 to 30 percent DEET.

And don’t forget about something that’s common right here in the U.S.: Lyme Disease.

That’s transmitted by a tick, so use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, and avoid areas with high grass and bushy areas especially during summer months.

These issues are not STOP signs for travel.

Instead, they’re reminders of why it’s so important to be attentive and use common sense.

For more helpful tips check out Health & Fitness section.

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