KIRSTEN TEKULA: It's the greatest adventure.
There's nothing like meeting new people
and seeing new places and tasting new food.
ANNOUNCER: There are some health risks for anyone
who travels to foreign lands,
especially in developing nations.
Your chances of illness or injuries drop substantially
with good planning.
GARY BRUNETTE: The first one, which is probably the most important,
is to arrange to see a travel medicine specialist.
NINA MARANO: A visit to the healthcare provider
can make all the difference
in whether you're gonna have safe and happy travel.
ANNOUNCER: Many diseases are easily preventable with vaccinations.
This includes seasonal influenza, H1N1,
updated routine vaccinations,
and any special vaccinations
recommended by your travel health adviser.
KIRSTEN TEKULA: I realized that there were a whole series
of vaccinations that I needed.
ANNOUNCER: Learn about the health risks at your destinations
and what vaccinations you may need
at the CDC's traveler's health website.
FELIPE LOBELO: I think the most important, critical part of it
is getting aware of what's going on,
having the information about the things that you need to do
to prevent getting infected
and also have a plan to act accordingly if you get infected.
ANNOUNCER: Travelers should get all routine medicines
and may need to get additional medicines
for travel to some regions of the globe.
PHYLLIS KOZARSKY: It's important that people bring along enough medications
so that they are not in a position
to try to find them when they're overseas.
GARY BRUNETTE: It would include some over-the-counter medications
such as pain relievers, antihistamines,
decongestants, for example.
KIRSTEN TEKULA: I realized that I needed special medication for malaria.
NINA MARANO: These drugs are not over-the-counter,
they can only be given by prescription,
and, importantly, most of them have to be started
before you actually get to your location.
GARY BRUNETTE: We encourage travelers
to put together a small travel health kit.
PHYLLIS KOZARSKY: When people are going to areas
where insects transmit diseases,
we're very careful to tell people
to bring insect repellant with them.
NINA MARANO: And, of course, a way to clean your skin,
so hand gels are extremely important,
and Band-Aids and first-aid equipment
is very, very important.
GARY BRUNETTE: Very often including sunscreen is very useful.
NINA MARANO: We think of all of these exotic diseases
that people can get,
but, really, insect bites and sunburn,
and then you want to have something like an Imodium
or a loperamide for traveler's diarrhea.
ANNOUNCER: Travel health experts
advise that you purchase travel insurance
and medical evacuation insurance prior to international travel.
GARY BRUNETTE: Evacuation costs are particularly high,
and they can vary.
NINA MARANO: If you get sick aboard that ship
or if you get sick in a foreign port,
how are you gonna find your way home?
It's extremely important
to consider medical evacuation insurance
and travel insurance.
KIRSTEN TEKULA: So I made a point
of going ahead, biting the bullet,
and spending the extra money for that.
And even though I never had to use it,
it was money very well spent.
NINA MARANO: And it gives just peace of mind.
PHYLLIS KOZARSKY: People need to consider
not only their tickets and their passports,
but also their health.
KIRSTEN TEKULA: You want an adventure.
You don't want problems.