HEALTHY TRAVELING IN COLD AND FLU SEASON

Cold and flu season make it more important than ever for travelers to be proactive. While Grandma’s advice to get plenty of rest and fluids still applies, it takes more to beat the odds. Before your departure overseas, consult your doctor for updates on infectious diseases of the region into which you’re traveling. The CDC is a great resource for updates. The World Health Organization also has detailed information on pandemic vaccines and international health issues. They both recommend to not only wipe your hands often with antibacterial wipes or sanitizers, but use sanitizers to clean anything from your airplane seat to your taxi interior to your hotel room.

After the recent cases of Swine Flu, some international airlines have new policies preventing passengers from even boarding who exhibit flu symptoms. China and Japan have been known to hold passengers in quarantine if another traveler onboard exhibits illness while in the air.

If you do have the misfortune to become ill while traveling, contact the US Consulate for assistance in obtaining medical services if you don’t have travel insurance. Know that most doctors require payment up front, and English speaking doctors are not as easy to find as you think. All the more reason to purchase travel insurance.

The International Society of Travel Medicine maintains a directory of health-care providers, and the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers publishes a directory of English-speaking physicians, hospitals, and clinics. Membership is required for this service. With travel insurance, these services are included.