Health and Medical

The World Health Organization recommends that your travel plans include contacting a travel medicine clinic or physician six to eight weeks before departure. Based on your individual risk assessment, a health care professional can determine your need for immunization and/or preventive medication and advise you on precautions to avoid disease. This is especially important if you plan to travel with infants or young children.

Prescription medication for legitimate health conditions may come under intense scrutiny by foreign officials. In some countries, drugs that are legal and readily available maybe considered illegal, require a prescription, or arouse the suspicions of local officials and customs and immigration authorities. Take appropriate precautions when travelling with such supplies.

Standards of medical care may differ from those in your country. Treatment may be expensive, and payment in advance may be required. Travellers are advised to arrange for medical insurance prior to departure. Prescription medication should be kept in the original container and packed in carry-on luggage.

Travellers should also cover up and use mosquito repellent to avoid the potential risks of mosquito-borne diseases.

For more health information, please visit:

U.S. - Centre of Disease Control Prevention : http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/

U.S - Pan American Health Organization: http://new.paho.org/hq/index.php?lang=en

World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/csr/don/en/index.html

Canada - Public Heath Agency of Canada: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/tmp-pmv/index-eng.php

United Kingdom Health Protection Agency: http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/

European Centre for Disease Prevention Control: http://ecdc.europa.eu/en/Pages/home.aspx

For a list of travel clinics, please visit: http://istmsite.membershipsoftware.org/AF_CstmClinicDirectory.asp