Staying prepared for health problems abroad

As the summer travel season begins, agencies are warning travellers of potential health risks around the world. On top of the usual risks of illness or injury that can happen anywhere, there are area-specific concerns. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention brought its travel notices list up to date, pinpointing outbreaks of things like measles, cholera and dengue fever in several countries. While the risk of contracting these diseases varies enormously by destination and even within the same destination depending on your travel style, it pays to be prepared for health risks before you fly.

The Wall Street Journal recommends travellers receive a full physical before embarking on a new journey. During this time, the doctor can determine which vaccinations or other preventative measures may be necessary for the kind of travel and destination in question. Of course, dealing with illness or injury abroad can also be difficult, and can be another topic of discussion for travellers, their doctors and even their insurance companies. It's possible to purchase specific medical insurance for travel as well, which the Journal describes.