Travel Medicine

What Is Travel Medicine?

Travel medicine is a specialized area of healthcare that focuses on the needs of travelers, particularly those who travel to other countries.

Generally, physicians and others who specialize in travel medicine are experts in infectious diseases. But, their expertise also often includes:

knowledge of specific geographical locations
information about health conditions and disease outbreaks in different countries
requirements of other countries for vaccinations and health reports
availability of medications and other healthcare treatments for diseases and disorders around the world
information on the political situations in other countries

For people planning to travel out of the United States, particularly to the developing countries of Africa, Asia, and Latin America, it is extremely important to talk with a travel medicine specialist as far in advance of your trip as possible. Although the United States government provides the latest information for the health and safety of American travelers, it cannot replace having a personal relationship with a physician who is knowledgeable about the needs of people who travel abroad.

This page was last updated on: February 28, 2008.

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