Illness and Injury Abroad

Before going abroad, you should become familiar with what steps to take and who to contact in case of a medical emergency while you are traveling. The following information will assist you.

See the information in Your Survival Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel.

Plan Ahead for Illnesses or Injuries During Your Trip
Travel Health and Medical Evacuation Insurance and planning for in-flight health issues.
Know What To Do if You Become Sick or Injured on Your Trip
Includes what to do if you are sick on an airplane or cruise ship, and what to do in a disaster.
Pay Attention to Your Health During Your Trip
Health tips to stay healthy during your travels.
Pay Attention to Your Health When You Come Home
Monitor your health after your trip, especially if you visited a malaria risk area.

There are some in-depth sections of CDC Health Information for International Travel 2010 (“The Yellow Book”) that may help to prepare for illness or injury abroad.

Planning for Healthy Travel
The basics, including how to understand this site's travel notices
Travel Health Kits
Putting together a kit to take care of minor health problems and treat pre-existing medical conditions while abroad
Obtaining Health Care Abroad for the Ill Traveler
Health insurance, what to do if serious illness or injury occurs, blood transfusions, health-seeking travel
Injuries and Safety
Scuba Diving
Helpful information about traveling to scuba dive and diving-related disorders
Death During Travel
The Post-Travel Consultation
Common health problems of travelers who are ill on their return home, illnesses that may appear later, screening

Are you looking for recommendations for traveling with children to specific countries? See the Destinations page.

Isolation and quarantine are used to protect the public by preventing exposure to infected people or to people who may be infected. For more information about Quarantine and Isolation, including information about travel restrictions, see About Quarantine and Isolation.