CDC Travelers' Health Update

An estimated 4.8 million US residents travel overseas for business each year. Are you one of them?

Before You Go: See a doctor at least a month before a trip, even a last-minute visit can be useful; check out our country-specific health recommendations; and pack a travel health kit.

During Your Trip:

Minimizing jet lag: Shift your sleep cycle a couple of hours earlier or later a few days before you leave; stay hydrated; avoid alcohol & caffeine; try to sleep on long flights; and pack a mild sedative in your carry on if you have trouble sleeping.
Managing stress: Eat healthy meals & exercise regularly; avoid alcohol; get a good night’s rest; and stay in regular contact with friends and family.
If you get sick during your trip, contact a health care provider. The US Embassy can help you locate a doctor.

If You Get Sick after Your Trip: Contact a doctor and mention your recent travel history.

Check out our new feature → Business Travel

Top Tips on Embassies and Safety during Travel

Enroll with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This FREE service allows US citizens traveling or living abroad to receive the latest security updates from the nearest US embassy or consulate.
If you need to contact a US Embassy or consulate while traveling abroad, save these numbers: 1-888-407-4747 (from the US or Canada) OR 00-1-202-501-4444 (from overseas).

Clinician Updates

Update Your Continuing Education Credits

Our Clinician Resource page has our most up-to-date resources for pre-travel care, post-travel clinical evaluation, and continuing education credit.

We recently posted three new CE courses. Need to add some credits towards your annual accrual? Check these out:

Hantavirus Disease: Information for Medical Providers

The Epidemiology and Clinical Presentation of Lassa Fever: Information for Medical Providers

Diagnosing and Treating Lassa Fever: Information for Medical Providers

Measles Outbreaks Continue

Measles is a concern for several popular travel destinations. Countries with current measles travel noticesinclude: England, Italy, France, Greece, Romania, Moldova, Serbia, Ukraine, Israel, Kazakhstan, Columbia, Brazil, Congo, Madagascar, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Japan.

What can you do? Everyone 6 months and older needs the measles vaccine before international travel. Make sure your patients are up to date on the MMR vaccine and on other routine shots, including the yearly flu shot. Use our Vaccine Quick Guide a two-page guide with commonly recommended travel vaccines and medications.

Have a patient that is traveling? If your patient says they are going to Brazil, what should you recommend? Our destination tool has clinical recommendations and advice for every country.

Have a sick patient? Consider measles if they have a fever, rash, and cough, coryza and conjunctivitis—the three “C”s. Ask your patient if they are vaccinated against measles and whether they have recently traveled internationally or if there’s measles in the community use our Yellow Book- Infectious Diseases Related to Travel: Measles.