Recent deadly outbreaks of Ebola in Africa and hantavirus on a cruise ship have made headlines — but some less unusual diseases present a threat much closer to home.
Some threats, like yellow fever and rabies, mainly apply to travelers visiting certain regions or participating in specific activities. Others are lurking almost everywhere. According to the Centers for Disease Control, “measles cases are rising in many countries around the world. All international travelers should be fully vaccinated against measles with the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine.”
The most dangerous health risk is one you don’t know about and can’t prepare for. Before you board your next flight, learn what vaccinations you need to stay healthy — both during your trip and long after you return home.
Related: Travel health checklist: How to stay safe abroad
Check your immunizations
Some diseases present a risk anywhere you travel, or even at home, so it’s a good idea to stay up-to-date on the vaccinations recommended by your primary care physician.
Many common vaccines will protect you for a decade or more, but this isn’t always the case — especially if you’re traveling to an area with higher risk. For instance, even if you were vaccinated against tetanus and polio as a child, your doctor may recommend a booster shot before you travel.
Don’t overlook seasonal culprits like Covid and the flu, which you’re probably more likely to contract while flying than on the ground in your destination. These vaccines may not protect you from all strains, but they’ll at least reduce your risk of catching a vacation-ruining bug on a plane.
Visit the CDC website
Corey McVey, director of nursing at Passport Health in Chicago and Wisconsin, told TPG the first stop when considering international travel should be the CDC’s dedicated Travelers’ Health site. From the homepage, you can select your destination country and see a breakdown of recommended vaccines and medications for different types of travelers, as well as other health and safety tips and medical packing lists.
If you’d like a second reliable source, you can also visit the World Health Organization (WHO) website for international travel and health.
Get a travel health consultation
“Only 10% of travelers that should seek travel consultation do,” said McVey. Several factors contribute to this alarmingly low number. Here are some common misconceptions that keep people from seeking a consultation:
“I won’t get sick.” McVey believes this is the most common reason people skip travel consultations. “People think they’ll be fine. They won’t come across illness or diseases. But you should get a consultation for the same reason you wear a seat belt. You don’t know about others. You don’t know about the people cooking your food.”
“I saw my primary care physician.” Many travelers consider an appointment with their primary care physician adequate. You definitely should consult your physician first, and often they will recommend a travel clinic — especially if you’ll need vaccinations they don’t carry. However, McVey says primary care physicians don’t always have the most current information. “They may not be aware of an outbreak. Travel clinics are most in tune with international travelers’ needs.”
“I got all the information I need online.” While the CDC website should be your first stop, it shouldn’t be your last. A travel consultation will cater recommendations to each traveler based on health history risks and the activities they’re planning. “The needs of a backpacker traveling through Thailand are different than a business traveler who will only be in Bangkok a few days.”
“I’ll get sick.” McVey sees many patients who misunderstand how vaccines works. “Some people think the shot gives them the disease, they get sick and then they are immune. Very few people get sick from the vaccines. It’s an antibody buildup.”
“Travel consultations are expensive.” Some vaccinations, such as rabies, are indeed expensive (over $1,000 for the series), but this is an extreme example that is rarely needed. Travel consultations typically cost $50 to $150, and most vaccines are less than $100. And as the name suggests, the visit is merely a consultation. You’ll receive recommendations for medication or vaccinations as needed, but you are under no obligation to get them.
Find a clinic near you
Travel clinics are common in most cities; Passport Health alone has over 300 in North America.
You should schedule your travel consultation at least a month before departure, as vaccines take 10 to 14 days to reach full effectiveness, and some need to be administered as a series. However, McVey stresses that a late consultation is still far better than no consultation. “We’ll vaccinate even if they are getting on an airplane that day. It’s never too late.”
During your consultation, you’ll discuss which regions you will visit, what activities you’ll be doing and what health risks to expect. The doctor may recommend vaccines as well as other prescriptions, such as malaria pills and antibiotics to treat traveler’s diarrhea. If you need a multi-dose vaccine, you may need to come back for a follow-up visit in a week or two.
Some insurance plans cover preventative health for international travel; some, including Medicare, do not. If you have a health savings account, this is an eligible expense.
Related: Best credit cards for paying your medical bills
Understand your vaccines
Not all immunizations work the same way or for the same length of time. For example, there is an oral typhoid vaccine that protects you for five years, while the injectable version only lasts two years.
Also, contrary to what the name might suggest, the rabies vaccine doesn’t fully protect you from rabies. Even if you get the three-dose vaccine — the most extensive option — you still need to seek medical attention if you are bitten or scratched by an animal that may be infected. The vaccine gives you more time to seek treatment, so you can wait until you return home rather than rushing to a hospital in a foreign country, but you should still seek treatment to avoid getting this deadly disease.
A travel doctor can explain details like this, as well as potential risks and side effects of any vaccine they recommend for you.
The CDC’s Vaccine Information Statements (VIS) explain each disease, who is at risk and who should or shouldn’t get the vaccine due to age or health concerns. It also lists potential side effects. You can search for a specific VIS by typing the disease name followed by “vis” into a search engine.
Prevention beyond immunization
While many serious health risks can be prevented through vaccinations, the most common cannot. “The number one health risk for travelers is diarrhea, which can be prevented many different ways,” McVey explained. These include avoiding tap water in some areas and following best practices around hygiene and sanitation.
A travel doctor will tell you what kinds of foods to avoid to protect yourself from food- and water-borne illness, as well as other activities you should avoid (such as swimming in freshwater lakes in areas that carry dangerous bacteria).
Other diseases are preventable by prescription. For instance, taking malaria medication while traveling through at-risk areas can greatly reduce the odds of contracting the disease.
However, some diseases — including the Ebola strain currently affecting DRC and Uganda — are still not fully preventable. Your best defense against these illnesses is avoiding places where they’re found.
Related: How to travel with prescriptions and over-the-counter medications
Bottom line
Overall, the risk of diseases abroad should be taken seriously, but it shouldn’t be a deterrent to travel in most cases. A travel consultation will prepare you with vaccinations, medications and, most importantly, an education, so you can travel with peace of mind to the far corners of the globe.
For more healthy travel resources, check out these tips:
