Stay Healthy When You Travel

When you are planning to travel outside the U.S., take steps to stay healthy and safe on your trip.

Answer these questions as you plan your trip:

• Do I need any shots (vaccines) or medicines to prevent diseases?
• Will the food and water be safe?
• Will I have access to the medicines I might 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 shots or medicines to prevent diseases?
There may be medicines or shots (vaccines) that you can get to protect you from local diseases. Different diseases are common in different parts of the world. 

Take steps to protect yourself. For example:

• Shots 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, like Africa and Asia.

Doing your homework on the place you’ll be visiting can help you have a safe and healthy trip.

• 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 could have germs or bacteria that could make you sick.

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 prepared with unsafe water.

Get more information about food and water safety for travelers.

Will I have access to the medicines I might need?
It can be difficult to get medicines when you are traveling. It’s always a good idea to take all the medicine you might need with you.

• Make a list of the medicines you take or might need while you are traveling. Include prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
• Pack enough for the whole trip plus extra, in case you are away longer than you plan to be.
• Keep medicines in your carry-on bag in case the luggage you check gets lost during travel.

Get more tips on what to pack to help you stay healthy.

What happens if I get sick while I’m traveling?
It can be scary if you need medical help while you are far from home – especially if you don’t speak the local language. That’s why it’s so important to make sure you are prepared.

Before you leave, make a list of the places you could go for help if you get sick. For example, the U.S. has offices – called embassies and consulates – in many parts of the world. Employees at U.S. embassies and consulates can help U.S. citizens in emergencies.

Look up the contact information for the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will be traveling.

Am I at risk for health problems during travel?
Some people are more likely to have health problems while traveling outside the U.S. Everyone needs to see a doctor before planning a trip to another country, but this is especially important for people who:

• Are pregnant
• Have a disability
• Have a health condition
• Have a weakened immune system (from HIV, for example)

Depending on your situation, the doctor may recommend that you not travel right now.

Take these steps to stay healthy while you are traveling outside the U.S.

Find out about local health problems and other risks.
Before you travel to another part of the world, make sure you know about any issues that could affect your health or safety. Check for information about:

• Common diseases (like malaria or hepatitis)
• Outbreaks of disease (like the flu)
• Food and water safety issues and updates
• Warnings about natural disasters
• Security concerns (like political unrest or other violence)
• How easy it is to get medical care
• Other things that may affect your trip

Use this tool to find health and safety information for specific countries.

See a doctor before your trip.
Make an appointment to see a doctor or nurse at least 4 to 6 weeks before you plan to leave. Tell the doctor where you are going and what you’ll be doing there.

Here are some questions you may want to ask at your appointment:

• Am I healthy enough to travel?
• Am I up to date on my shots?
• Do I need any other shots to prevent diseases?
• Do I need to get any special medicines to take with me? For example, if you are going somewhere with unsafe water, you might want to ask about medicines to treat diarrhea (frequent, watery poop).

Ask the doctor to write down the details of your health condition.
If the doctor is treating you for a specific health condition, you’ll need to take a few extra steps. Ask the doctor for a signed letter that:

• Describes the health condition
• Includes any information that could be helpful if you need treatment while you are away
• Lists any prescription medicines you take (and their generic names) and the dose (how much you take)

Ask for an extra supply of any medicines you need, in case your trip lasts longer than you expect.

Get more tips to help you prepare for your appointment.

Have a plan in case you get sick.
Before you leave, make a list of resources. Keep this information with you at all times while you are away.

• Look up the contact information for the U.S. embassy or consulate where you will be traveling.
• Sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This makes it easier for the U.S. government to help you in an emergency.
• Write down local emergency phone numbers (like the police station and fire department) when you arrive at the place you are staying.

Check out these other tips on what to do if you get sick or hurt on your trip.

Talk to your medical insurance company before you leave.
Find out if your insurance will:

• Cover you when you are outside of the country
• Pay for emergencies like a trip to a hospital or a medical evacuation (if you need to be moved to another hospital or treatment center)

If your insurance won’t cover these things, find out about short-term insurance for travelers.

Know how to eat and drink safely while you are away.
Depending on where you are traveling, you may need to drink only bottled water. You also may need to be careful about what you eat. In places with water safety issues, don’t drink or eat the following:

• Tap water
• Fountain drinks (soda)
• Ice cubes
• Certain foods – especially raw shellfish and foods that may be washed in tap water, like fresh fruits and vegetables

Find out what you can do to make water safe to drink.

Protect yourself from insect (bug) and animal bites.
Both insect and animal bites can put you at risk for diseases, especially in certain countries.

For example mosquitoes can spread malaria in Africa and Asia. And dogs in Central and South America are more likely to have rabies than dogs in the U.S. People can get rabies if an infected dog bites them.

Here are some basic tips:

• Pack clothing that will protect you from mosquitoes and ticks. For example, you will want a hat, long pants, and long-sleeved shirts.
• Never try to feed, pet, or touch unfamiliar animals.
• Be aware of animals around you. They may be more likely to attack if you scare or surprise them.

Be an aware traveler.

• Learn about the local laws and customs (common behaviors) where you’ll be traveling. You can make safer decisions when you know which behaviors are okay and which ones might upset people.
• When you are traveling, keep your luggage in your sight at all times. Also make sure not to take any packages from people you don’t know.
• Don’t carry large amounts of cash with you. When you take money out to pay for something, try not to let people see what’s in your wallet.
• Store any valuables and important documents (like your passport) in the hotel safe. Never carry them with you while you are out.
• Write down how to say a few key phrases in the local language that you might need during an emergency, like “I need help” or “I need a doctor.”
• Find out about ways to stay in contact by phone. In some areas, you may need to buy a local cell phone or use a pre-paid calling card.

Get more tips for staying safe on your trip.