North America: Travel Health, Risks & Local Support www.travelplanet.cc
Country directory with concise health-risk notes, national health authorities and leading international travel-medicine resources.
1. Pre-travel quick check
- 4–8 weeks before departure: Arrange a travel-medicine consultation; seek advice promptly even for last-minute travel.
- Vaccinations: Check your protection against tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and seasonal influenza.
- Ticks & mosquitoes: Be aware of tick-borne diseases (Lyme borreliosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever) and mosquito-borne diseases (West Nile virus, dengue in southern regions).
- Hygiene & food: Discuss safe food and water, diarrhoea prevention and a suitable travel medical kit.
- Medical access: Arrange travel health insurance (especially for the USA, where care is very expensive), take enough personal medication and plan for medical access.
- Current conditions: Re-check official health warnings, local authorities and travel health advice shortly before departure.
2. Leading travel-health institutes
Use these sources for destination-specific risk information and preparation. They should support—not replace—an individual clinical consultation.
Germany, Austria & Switzerland
- German Society for Tropical Medicine, Travel Medicine and Global Health (DTG)GermanyProfessional society for tropical medicine and travel medicine; provides evidence-based professional resources and links to specialist expertise.
- Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)HamburgMajor German research institute for tropical medicine and global health.
- Tropeninstitut.de – destination directoryGermany / DACHGerman-language destination pages for vaccines, malaria and other travel-health risks.
- Swiss TPH Travel ClinicBaselTravel-medicine consultation and tropical-medicine expertise.
- HealthyTravel.chSwitzerlandTravel-health information, vaccination and malaria guidance, and current news.
- Tropeninstitut WienAustriaTravel vaccinations and tropical/travel-medicine advice.
United States, United Kingdom & global
- CDC Travelers’ Health – destinationsUnited StatesOfficial U.S. destination-specific advice on vaccines, malaria prevention, food/water safety and health notices.
- CDC Yellow BookUnited StatesDetailed U.S. government travel-medicine reference for clinicians and travellers.
- TravelHealthPro / NaTHNaC – country directoryUnited KingdomUK travel-health information, country pages, outbreaks and professional resources.
- WHO Disease Outbreak NewsglobalOfficial international outbreak communications.
- PAHO country profilesAmericasHealth-system and country information for the Pan American Health Organization.
- WHO Region of the AmericasAmericasWHO information for the Region of the Americas.
3. United States
United States (general)
Key health risks: Tick-borne diseases (Lyme borreliosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis) in many regions, West Nile virus via mosquitoes, seasonal influenza. In southern states (Florida, Texas, California) dengue cases are possible. Medical care is of a high standard but very expensive – travel health insurance with adequate coverage is essential.
4. Canada
Canada
Key health risks: Tick-borne diseases (Lyme borreliosis, anaplasmosis) in parts of southern Canada, West Nile virus. In northern regions, extreme cold and long distances to medical care. Medical care is of a high standard, but is costly for non-residents – travel health insurance is recommended.
5. Mexico
Mexico
Key health risks: Dengue, Zika, chikungunya in coastal and lowland regions; malaria in some rural areas (especially Chiapas, Chihuahua, Sinaloa); yellow fever not endemic. Good medical care in major cities and tourist areas, limited in rural areas. Altitude sickness in Mexico City (2,250 m) possible. Caution with food hygiene (traveller's diarrhoea).
6. Emergency & local care
- Medical emergency: Contact local emergency services (USA/Canada: 911, Mexico: 911 or 065/066/068). Save the number before travel.
- Treatment or evacuation: Contact your travel insurer or assistance provider early where the medical situation permits. In the USA, insurance with high coverage is especially important.
- Red flags: Seek urgent medical help for high fever, breathing difficulty, altered consciousness, heavy bleeding, neurological symptoms, severe dehydration or rapid deterioration.
- After return: Seek prompt medical assessment for fever or significant symptoms after travel, and state every country/region visited and travel dates.
This directory must not be used for self-diagnosis or self-medication.
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