Be alert to overseas health risks

Outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) around the world have highlighted the need for travelers to stay abreast of public health issues in other countries. Several Web sites provide up-to-the minute health information for overseas travelers:

www.cdc.gov/travel

The travel

www.state.gov/travel

The State Department's main travel page gives travelers a jumping-off point for researching everything they need to know before heading overseas, including information on travel emergencies and warnings. The site's many useful links cover visas, foreign per diem rates, issues related to living overseas, airline on-time statistics and currency exchange rates.

www.who.int/ith

The online version of the World Health Organization's journal International Travel and Health summarizes the most recent research about the health risks travelers face and what they should do to protect their health. The material is directed toward medical professionals, but most of the contents are accessible to lay readers. The site includes a searchable database of vaccination requirements and diseases posing risk to travelers.