International Travel & Infectious Disease

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Contact Info
Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Contact Info

Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division
651-201-5414
IDEPC Comment Form

Guidance for Travelers:
International Travel & Infectious Disease

Many diseases are just a plane ride away. Take care of yourself and others before, during, and after travel with these resources and information.

On this page:
Before travel
During travel
After travel
Disease-specific considerations

Before travel

Whether you are traveling outside the U.S. to visit friends and relatives, for vacation, or on business, don't let illness interfere with your activities. Contact your primary health care provider or a travel clinic as soon as you know you are traveling (preferably 4 to 6 weeks before you travel) to discuss your travel plans and allow time to obtain necessary vaccines and medications. Your provider will need to know your dates of travel, destination(s), how long you will travel, any previous health issues, as well as your reasons for travel.

Questions to ask your health care provider before travel
  • I will be traveling to ____ and staying for ____ days. What do I need to know or bring to stay safe and healthy?
  • Do I need travel medication or vaccines?
  • What should I do if I am leaving on my trip soon and I do not have time to get vaccinations?
  • If I cannot afford all the vaccinations required, are there ones you recommend prioritizing? Are there generic or cheaper options available?
  • How can I avoid getting malaria or other insect-borne diseases?
  • Is there something I should do to prevent diarrhea or other health problems like blood clots when traveling?
  • What should I be aware of when planning my trip if I am taking prescribed medication or have any special conditions (pregnant, allergies, chronic health problems, etc.)?
  • Can I get a letter from you that describe my medical condition and generic name(s) of my prescription medication(s)?
  • If I want to bring a first aid kit, what would you recommend having in there?
  • Are there other things I should consider to stay healthy and keep others around me safe?
  • What should I do if I become very sick when traveling?

Some clinics have availability for last-minute travelers, so you should still seek care even if your trip is coming up sooner or unexpected. Even if you are familiar with your destination, it is important to understand the current risks in order to be well prepared for the trip.

Plan Ahead Before You Travel
International travel checklist and steps to prepare for your trip.

Tips from a Travel Clinic Physician
Dr. Megan K. Shaughnessy answers frequently asked traveler's health questions.

Materials and Resources
Videos, posters, and other materials to share, view, or print.

Travel medication

Travel medication can be expensive and may or may not be covered by insurance. There are several things you can do at the pharmacy and at home to find more affordable travel medication. Ask the pharmacist if they can give you a generic version of the medication or if there are discount cards available, and call different pharmacies to ask how much the medicine will cost.

It Costs How Much? What to do if your travel medication is too expensive.

It Costs How Much? What to do if your travel medication is too expensive. (PDF)
Single-fold brochure about travel medication.

Other languages: It Costs How Much?

Vaccines, travel health clinics, and other recommendations

Your immunization, medication needs, and other specific travel advice are based on your travel destination. Vaccines can be expensive and are not always covered by insurance. Your primary health care provider may be able to administer vaccines for lower-risk trips, prioritize vaccines to minimize cost, and refer you to travel clinics if needed. Providers at travel clinics are trained and certified to provide you with the needed health information for your specific destination, as well as administer the required vaccines and medication to keep you healthy throughout the trip. This includes trips to Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Central America.

Heading Home Healthy provides important information on staying safe and healthy while traveling. After providing your age, zip code, and travel destination, you can get personalized travel alerts and health recommendations. Travelers can sign up for the newsletter and find travel health information in many languages.Heading Home Healthy logo

 

Key resources: before you travel

You can visit these websites to get an idea of what you will need to do and what a health care provider will suggest for your specific trip.

CDC: Travelers' Health
Information for international travelers. Includes COVID-19 travel health information.

  • Travel Health Notices
    Stay informed about current health issues related to specific international destinations.
  • Traveling with Children
    Information about pre-travel care, vaccines, diarrhea, water safety, and more while traveling with children.
  • Visiting Friends or Relatives
    Information and resources for people who are traveling to a foreign country to visit friends or relatives, including advice about malaria and foodborne illnesses.

CDC: Pack Smart
Tips on what you should pack in your travel health kit, including prescription and over-the-counter medicine and other medical supplies that may be needed for your trip.

Additional resources

Contact the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate directly:

  • From the U.S. or Canada: 1-888-407-4747
  • From other countries: 00-1-202-501-4444

U.S. Department of State resources:

  • Travel.State.Gov
    Learn how to check if your health insurance covers you during travel, how to find a doctor overseas, how to travel with prescription medications, and more.
  • Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
    STEP is a free service that allows U.S. citizens to enroll their trip with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate where they are traveling. STEP provides important information about safety conditions.

 

During travel

There are several important water and food safety tips to remember while you are traveling. The general rule is "boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it."

  • Wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitizer often, especially before eating.
  • Avoid tap/well water. Drink water that has been boiled or bottled from a trusted source.
  • Avoid locally-made ice cubes.
  • Drink canned or bottled beverages in the original container.
  • Avoid raw and undercooked food, especially meat, fish, and shellfish.
  • Avoid raw fruits or vegetables, like fresh salads or fruit platters.
  • Steaming hot food that has not been sitting out is usually safe to eat.

CDC: Choose Safe Food and Drinks When Traveling
Information on what food and water should be safe or avoided while traveling.

Tips to prevent insect bites
  • Use insect repellent with DEET (between 25-50%) or Picaridin (20%) on exposed skin and clothing to prevent mosquito bites.
  • When visiting malaria endemic areas, you should consider treating your clothing with permethrin or purchase clothing that have protection against mosquitoes bites.
  • Keep skin covered by wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants.
  • Sleep under insecticide-treated bed nets. Consider bringing duct tape to patch any holes.
  • Ensure you are staying at a place with windows and screens.

Preventing Mosquitoborne Disease
Information on how to protect yourself from mosquitoborne illnesses when traveling.

CDC: Avoid Bug Bites
Tips for preventing bug bites and reducing your risk of getting diseases.

Handling animals and pets
  • Avoid touching and directly interacting with animals including pets. Animals in other countries may carry other diseases and may not be vaccinated (e.g., rabies).
  • Supervise children closely, especially when they are playing around animals.
  • Never try to pet, feed, or handle unfamiliar animals.
  • Any bite, even if very minor, should be scrubbed with soapy water for 10-15 minutes. Seek medical care to determine if rabies shots or other treatments are needed.
  • If you are traveling with your pet, keep a close eye on your pet.

CDC: Avoid Animals
Know the risks and safety tips associated with animals while traveling.

After travel

Contact your health care provider if:

  • You do not feel well, especially if you have a fever or rash.
  • You have diarrhea with passage of many stools.
  • Your symptoms worsen or last more than a couple days (24 hours for children).

Symptoms may appear shortly after you return or months later. Always tell your health care provider if you have traveled outside the United States. This information will help them provide you with the best health care.

CDC: After Travel Tips
What to do if you get sick after traveling, as well as details you should share with your health care provider if you do become ill.

Disease-specific considerations

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Cholera

Cholera is an acute bacterial infection caused by ingested water or food contaminated with Vibrio cholerae. The risk of infection for travelers is quite low once they follow the appropriate sanitation measures. Most people infected by Vibrio cholerae do not show symptoms or present with mild diarrhea. People with low gastric acidity have an increased risk of developing severe illness. Infection is characterized by acute watery diarrhea described as "rice water stools" with associated nausea and vomiting. This causes severe dehydration quickly, hypovolemic shock, and death in a couple of hours if not treated promptly.

Coronaviruses

Human coronaviruses are common throughout the world. Seven different coronaviruses, that scientists know of, can infect people and make them sick. Some human coronaviruses were identified many years ago and some have been identified recently. Human coronaviruses commonly cause mild to moderate illness in people worldwide. Certain countries may require travelers to get COVID-19 vaccines.

Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an infection of the liver caused by the hepatitis A virus (HAV). HAV is most commonly transmitted by contaminated food. The best ways to prevent the disease are vaccines and handwashing.

Malaria

Malaria is a disease caused by the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito. They bite at night and early morning. People visiting friends and relatives are more likely than other travelers to get malaria. Malaria is found in many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and Central and South America. The most common signs of malaria include shaking, chills, high fever, headache, sweats, body aches, and tiredness. Malaria can be a very serious illness, and if you travel to a country where malaria occurs, you should take precautions to avoid getting sick.

  • About Malaria
    More travel-specific information and resources on how to best protect your family from malaria in English, Amharic, French, Oromo, and Somali.
     
  • CDC: Malaria | Travelers' Health
    More information on who is at risk, medication, and mosquito bite prevention.
Measles

Measles is a very contagious virus that can spread easily between people. The most recent cases of measles in Minnesota have been related to travel. Initial symptoms of measles include a rash, fever, cough, runny nose, and watery eyes. Getting vaccinated is the best way for you and your child to avoid getting measles.

Meningococcal disease

Meningococcal disease is a contagious bacterial infection of the thin lining of the brain and spinal cord spread by close contact. A high-risk area is a group of countries across sub-Saharan Africa. Children and adolescents have an increased susceptibility to the disease. Symptoms include fever, chills, headache, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting, dark purple rash, and sensitivity to light.

Rabies

Rabies is considered a universally fatal disease caused by a virus spread through bites, scratches, or licks from infected mammals. Dogs are the main source of rabies infections worldwide, but rabies is also found in bats, foxes, raccoons, etc. Coming into contact with wild and domestic animals put travelers at risk of rabies. The disease affects the central nervous system and it is characterized by pain, paresthesia at the site of exposure, fever, anxiety, paralysis/paresis, and muscle spasms at the sight or perception of water (hydrophobia). Preventive measures, pre- and postexposure prophylaxis, and wound care can enhance survival.

Travelers' diarrhea

Travelers’ diarrhea is the most common illness affecting travelers. It may occur whiles visiting places with sanitary conditions different from your place of origin. High-risk destinations include Africa, Asia, Mexico, Middle East, and Central and South America. Symptoms include abrupt onset of diarrhea, abdominal cramps, nausea, vomiting, fever, and bloating. It is important to take lots of fluids to stay well hydrated during diarrheal episodes.

Typhoid fever

Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection caused by ingesting food or water contaminated with Salmonella enterica spp. People visiting friends and relatives are more likely than other travelers to get typhoid fever. High-risk areas include Southern Asia, South East Asia, and Africa. South America and the Caribbean are low-risk regions. Symptoms include fever, headache, abdominal pain, malaise, diarrhea, or constipation. Fever increases daily from low grade to high grade. Symptoms are often confused with malaria.

Yellow fever

Yellow fever is a mosquitoborne disease found in tropical and subtropical areas of Africa and South America. Certain countries may require travelers to get yellow fever vaccine. Symptoms can include fever, headache, muscle aches, sensitivity to light, nausea, dizziness, and redness of the eyes, face, and tongue.

Other mosquitoborne diseases (Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika)

Chikungunya virus is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Symptoms include fever and joint pain, as well as headache, muscle pain, joint swelling, or rash. High-risk areas include countries in Africa, Asia, the Americas, and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Dengue fever is a virus transmitted by mosquitoes. They bite both during the day and at night. Bloodborne transmission can occur through exposure to blood and infected tissues. Symptoms include headache, nausea, joint aches, muscle pain, pain in the eyes and minor bleeding. High-risk areas include Latin America, Caribbean, Southeast Asia, and Africa.

Zika virus is transmitted by mosquitoes, through sex, and from an infected pregnant mother to the fetus. Infection is characterized by fever, headache, joint and muscle aches, and rash. Many infected people may not have symptoms. It may lead to birth defects among infected pregnant women.

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Last Updated: 11/14/2024