Healthy Travel This Winter
T
hinking of taking a winter getaway? Whether you are planning a retreat to
warmer weather or a snow-filled adventure, now is a great time for travel, but
make sure the flu is not your travel companion. It is important to take time
before your trip to reduce your risk of catching or spreading the flu as you
travel.
Before Your Trip
Get vaccinated.
Vaccines are the most important tool we have for preventing the flu. This
season, we have both a seasonal flu vaccine and
a vaccine
against the 2009 H1N1 virus. If you have not gotten these vaccines already,
talk to your doctor about getting them to protect yourself from the flu. Getting
vaccinated against seasonal flu and 2009 H1N1 flu is especially important before
you travel.
Traveling outside the United States this winter?
-
Learn about health information for
your destination.
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Before you travel, see a doctor familiar with travel medicine to get any
vaccines, medicines, and information you need to stay healthy.
-
Talk to your doctor if you are at high risk for flu complications. Depending
on your situation, your doctor may advise you to take antiviral medications with
you when you travel, especially if appropriate medical care is not available at
your destination.
-
Know what to do if you become sick or injured on your trip.
-
Visiting an area where there is a risk of malaria? If so, then seek medical
care right away if you have a fever. The first symptoms of malaria usually
include fever and chills, similar to the symptoms of flu. However, if malaria is
left untreated, the disease can quickly become serious and even life
threatening.
Prepare a travel health kit.
Remember that prevention can be
travel-sized! Include items in your kit that might be helpful if you get
sick, such as tissues, pain or fever medicine, soap, and an alcohol-based hand
rub to use in case soap and water are not available. For other health items to
consider, see
Pack
Smart.
Travel only when you feel well.
Watch out for symptoms of flu before your trip (see How do I know if I have the
flu?).
If you think you have the flu or otherwise feel ill, delay your travel plans
until your fever has been gone for at least 24 hours, without the use of
fever-reducing medicines. Even if it means missing out on your plans, staying
away from others when you're sick can help protect everyone's health.
If you have worrisome signs or symptoms, seek medical care, regardless of
whether you have a high-risk
condition for influenza complications.
During Your Trip
Take these everyday steps to protect your health and the health of
others:
Here are some simple things you can do to take care of yourself and keep
others well:
-
Remember to travel only when you feel well (see above).
-
Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue. No tissue? Then cough or sneeze
into your upper sleeve, not your hands.
-
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not
available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.*
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
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Avoid close contact with sick people.
More
Information
