Now that you have your passport, are you ready to travel?

We want you to have a safe and enjoyable vacation or business trip. The best way to make this happen is to plan ahead. We can help you have a great trip by offering recommended travel vaccines. To be fully immunized, plan at least 3 to 4 months ahead.

Recommended travel immunizations may include the following.

Additional Recommendations

Mosquitoes Personal protection measures should include avoiding contact with mosquitoes, particularly between dusk and dawn when most mosquitoes feed: Use mosquito netting. Wear clothes that cover most of the body. Apply insect repellant to exposed areas of the body. Use scentless body products. "DEET" is considered an effective insect repellant. Up to 50% concentration can be applied to children over the age of 2 months and adults.

Water/Ice Consuming local food and water is the most common source of illness for travelers. In areas where the water is not considered safe to drink, only consume the following: Beverages, such as tea and coffee, made with vigorously boiled water. Canned or bottled carbonated beverages, including carbonated water and soft drinks. Beer and wine. Where water may be contaminated, ice should also be considered contaminated. Remember to avoid using local water when brushing your teeth.

Food All food is subject to contamination. Avoid salads, uncooked fruits and vegetables. Avoid unpasteurized milk and milk products, such as cheese and local ice cream. Avoid consuming food and beverages from street vendors. Some species of fish and shellfish can contain poisonous biotoxins even when well cooked. Avoid barracuda, Red snapper, grouper, amberjack, seabass and tropical reef fish. Eat food that is thoroughly cooked and still hot. Eat only raw fruit that can be peeled by the traveler.

To purify water: Boil vigorously for 3 minutes, then allow water to cool to room temperature. Add tincture of iodine 2%, 5 drops per liter if water is clear, or 10 drops if water is cloudy. Allow water to stand for 30 minutes. Very turbid or very cold water should be allowed to stand several hours prior to use. To ensure that Cryptosporidium is killed, water must stand for 15 hours before drinking. Use tetraglycine hydroperiodide tablets (Golbaline, Potable-Aqua®). These are available at pharmacies and sporting goods stores. Follow the directions on the bottle.

Additional information:

• Current Travel Advisory
• CDC Travelers' Health Advisories
• Travel Health Online
• U.S. State Department Travel Warnings
• Pan American Health Organization
• or call CDC Travelers' Health at 877-394-8747

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