How to Prevent Air Travel Injury & Sickness

Each year millions of Americans travel abroad. Each year, approximately 60 million international passengers traveled by air from the United States annually. Over a third of them traveled to developing countries, where the risk of contracting infectious diseases is higher. About half of international travelers get sick or injured during trips. In 2002, 849 cases of malaria reported to CDC were related to travel overseas. Of the approximately 400 cases of typhoid fever each year in the U.S., 70% are related to trips abroad. In 1997, 40% of all preventable deaths of U.S. citizens abroad were due to injuries.

The good news is that most travel-related sickness and injury can be prevented. You are likely to be a traveler who has an enjoyable trip free from illness or injury when you follow these tips:

1. Be Informed

Four to 6 weeks before your trip find out what you need to know about staying healthy and safe in the area where you are traveling by visiting the Travelers' Health website. Using the site is simple. Choose the destination (by region) you are traveling to and you will get information about:

• disease and safety risks and how to avoid them

• special notices about outbreaks or other disease activity

• what vaccinations (shots) or preventive medications (prophylaxis) you should or will be required to go.

If you are going on a cruise, see our cruise ship travel recommendations from the Vessel Sanitation Program.

For health-care providers, textbook-style information is also available in the CDC publication, Health Information for International Travel, also known as the "Yellow Book". The 2003-2004 edition includes a new chapter on traveling with children, new text on scuba diving and high-risk travelers, new recommendations on malaria prophylaxis and yellow fever vaccination, and expanded text on altitude sickness, to name a few.

2. Be ReadyIf you will need any vaccinations (shots) or medicines, go to your healthcare provider or clinic 4 to 6 weeks before your trip. This will give your shots time to work so that you will be protected during your trip. If it is less than four weeks before you leave, you should still see your doctor. It might not be too late to get your shots or medications.

Prepare a traveler's health kit so you have all the medications and supplies you may need before you go.

2. Be Ready

• Wash your hands often and well with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub to help kill germs, especially before eating! If you are going on a cruise, read this fact sheet about handwashing, too. (in Adobe PDF format)

• Drink only boiled or bottled water or soft drinks from sources you trust. Do not drink tap water, fountain drinks, or eat ice cubes.

• Only eat food that has been cooked all the way through or fruits and vegetables that have been washed and peeled. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.

• If visiting an area where you might get malaria, make sure to take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after your trip, as directed.

• If you might be bitten by insects use insect repellent with up to 50% DEET. The label on the container will tell you the DEET content.

• Make sure you know how to keep yourself from being injured while you travel.

Follow the tips and recommendations your healthcare provider and the CDC Travelers' Health site offer, and you are more likely to remain healthy and safe, so you can enjoy your time away from home. Happy traveling!