This week on Health Watch, we’re talking about summer trips to far-off places, such as going to China for the Olympics. Travel to some destinations requires more advance planning. You’ll need to make sure you’ve had all the proper vaccinations for your destination.

Dr. Doug Hardy, an infectious diseases expert at UT Southwestern Medical Center, says you’re far more likely to develop traveler’s diarrhea than any serious illness, but it’s still best to be vaccinated. You not only risk exposure to illnesses prevalent in the area you’re visiting, but also through other travelers who may not have been vaccinated. Recommended vaccinations for travel to China include hepatitis A and B and typhoid, as well as being up-to-date on standard vaccinations, such as measles. Other vaccinations you might need for some destinations include Japanese encephalitis, yellow fever, rabies and meningococcal meningitis.

Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/infectiousdiseases to learn more about
UT Southwestern’s clinical services in infectious diseases.