Travel Health Warnings, Vaccinations and Traveler's Insurance

The best resource for travel health warnings and advisories is The Center for Disease Control. (Start Here.)

They can tell you everything you might need to know (health wise) about the country you are traveling to.

In the travel section of The CDC you'll find information on health issues and travel health warnings for the country you plan to visit.

Along with vaccination requirements, current outbreaks or problems, food and water safety, tips for traveling with children or pets and loads of other useful information. The information on this page comes from the gracious folks at The CDC. They do not endorse us or our website in any way.

Travel Advisories, Travel Health Warnings, Outbreak Notices...What Does All This Mean to Me?

Have you ever wondered what the difference was between a "Health Advisory" or a "Health Warning"? Well we're doing to tell you anyway:

• In The News: the lowest level of notice, will provide information about sporadic cases of disease or an occurrence of a disease of public health significance affecting a traveler or travel destination. The risk for an individual traveler does not differ from the usual risk in that area.
• Outbreak Notice: provides information about a disease outbreak in a limited geographic area or setting. The risk to travelers is defined and limited, and the notice will remind travelers about standard or enhanced travel recommendations, such as vaccination.
• Travel Health Precaution: provides specific information about a disease outbreak of greater scope and over a larger geographic area so travelers can take measures to reduce the risk of infection. The precaution also provides guidance to travelers about what to do if they become ill while in the area. CDC does not recommend against travel to a specific area but may recommend limiting exposure to a defined setting, such as poultry farms or health-care settings.
• Travel Health Warnings: recommends against nonessential travel to an area because a disease of public health concern is expanding outside the areas or populations that were initially affected. The purpose of a travel warning is to reduce the volume of traffic to affected areas, thus limiting the risk of spreading the disease to unaffected areas.

Now you know.

On the CDC Web site click on the Destination link. Look up the country you will be traveling to.

It will give you a list of any travel health warnings or health advisories along with any other health safety information you need to know about that country. Great website!

Health Care Abroad

Be sure to check the policy for 'out-of-network' coverage and what pre-authorization you may need.

If you have a pre-existing condition, chronic health problems, or are planning an extended stay consider purchasing additional insurance. These are short term policies. They can even provide you with medical evacuation if you are too sick to travel and need to be sent home under medical supervision. (these types of situations can be very expensive upwards of $10,000.)

Here are a few companies to get you started.

Keep in mind that these companies offer 'medical assistance' that's different from 'medical insurance' you will need to purchase both. Medical assistance usually offers 24 hour assistance on locating hospitals or clinics, phoning insurance companies and arranging payments, ordering prescriptions and arranging medical evacuations along with travel advisories.

Coverage ranges from about $400 per person upwards.

This formation is provided by The Center for Disease Control who in no way endorses any of these organizations.

• International SOS: International SOS offers comprehensive 24-hour physician-backed medical and security assistance, for which members pay a fee. Membership provides access to on-line services, including medical and safety travel advisories, pre-travel itinerary-based recommendations, and computerized medical records. Insurance policies include medical evacuation and repatriation coverage, access to international clinics that provide primary care, diagnostic, and emergency services, and voluntary patient support programs to assist with medication compliance while abroad.
• Medex: MEDEX travel assistance services include 24-hour access to coordinators who can help locate appropriate medical care providers, coordinate direct payment of covered medical expenses, and assist in other medical, legal or travel situations. Insurance policies include medical evacuation and repatriation services, emergency dental coverage, and assistance with replacement of medications. For an additional fee, subscribers also have access to itinerary-based destination reports, which cover practical topics from local transportation and cultural norms to medical and security alerts.
• International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers: IAMAT is a nonprofit organization established to provide medical information to travelers and to make competent medical care available to them worldwide. IAMAT maintains an international network of physicians, hospitals, and clinics who have agreed to treat IAMAT members in need of medical care while abroad. Membership is free, although a donation to support IAMAT efforts is appreciated. Members receive a directory of participating physicians and medical centers and have access to a variety of travel-related informational brochures.

The US Department of State has a fairly comprehensive list of medical travel companies. Everything from Air Ambulance companies to travel insurance companies to executive health services (if you happen to own Microsoft or are a member of the Rolling Stones).

You can find that page here. You can print a copy of the information but they don't yet have it available as a PDF download.

Air Travel and Cruise Ships

It changes constantly as new information comes forth. Here you can find the latest on travel health warnings and other health issues for air and sea travel. Things such as vessel sanitation programs, if air passengers need to be checked for avian flu or information about SARS.

Note About Vaccinations

If you are not a big traveler and this your first time overseas or you're taking an exotic tour of some kind go see your doctor about 6 weeks before you have to leave.

Your doctor can advise you on the state of your vaccinations (some vaccinations are recommended but others are mandatory such as yellow fever), what health problems you might encounter, give you pills for malaria or other such things and just make sure you are healthy and fit enough to travel.

Go to the Center for Disease Control Destination Page and click on the country you are planning on visiting.

You'll find information on travel health warnings and health advisories for that country along with recommended and required vaccinations. Print it out and take it along to your doctor.

Special Note on Traveling with Children

• Safe water and snacks
• Waterless, alcohol-based hand sanitizer; child-safe hand wipes
• ORS packets: Dehydration is best prevented and treated by the use of ORS. Individual packets can be found in outdoor supply stores
• Oral syringes for the administration of medications and ORS
• Diaper rash ointment
• Extra formula
The CDC has a really good page on travel safety, travel health warnings and children. If you are traveling with children it is well worth a read.


Return to Travel First Aid from Travel Health Warnings.




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Disclaimer: All information on All-Things-First-Aid.com is for educational purposes only. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, emergency treatment or formal first-aid training. If you're in a life-threatening or emergency medical situation, seek medical assistance immediately.

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