The Basics
Before you travel outside the United States, plan ahead to stay healthy and safe on your trip.
Answer these questions as you plan your trip:
- Do I need any vaccines (shots) or medicines to prevent diseases?
- Will the food and water be safe?
- Can I bring my medicines with me?
- Will I be able to get the medicines I need during my trip?
- What happens if I get sick while I’m traveling?
- Am I at risk for health problems during travel?
Do I need any vaccines (shots) or medicines to prevent diseases?
Different diseases are common in different parts of the world. Getting certain vaccines and medicines before traveling can protect you from local diseases. For example:
- Vaccines can protect you from diseases like hepatitis A. You can get hepatitis A from contaminated (unsafe) food or water. It’s common in many countries, including those in Central and South America.
- Medicines can protect you from diseases like malaria. Malaria (“muh-LAIR-ee-yah”) is a disease spread by mosquitoes in some parts of the world, including parts of Africa, Asia, and South America.
To stay healthy and safe on your trip, do your homework on the place you’ll be visiting:
- Use this tool to find health information about specific countries.
- Find out more about diseases that can affect travelers.
Will the food and water be safe?
In some countries, the tap water isn’t safe to drink – especially for people who aren’t used to it. Even if the tap water doesn’t affect the people who live there, it might have germs that could make you sick. These germs can cause diarrhea (frequent, watery poop) and other health problems.
In places where the tap water isn’t safe to drink, you need to be careful about what you eat, too. Some foods, like fresh vegetables and fruits, may not be safe to eat because they are washed or cooked with unsafe water.
Continue reading at https://healthfinder.gov/HealthTopics/Category/everyday-healthy-living/safety/stay-healthy-when-you-travel