Traveler standing on a globe surrounded by health and travel symbols.

Travel Safe: Your Guide to Staying Healthy Abroad

Lena Kashyap in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Expert tips and insights from Argentina's First Travel Medicine Center to ensure a healthy and worry-free trip."

Globally, travel is booming, with 1.5 billion people traveling by air and 700 million crossing international borders annually. These numbers highlight the need to understand and manage the health risks associated with travel.

Your health risk during travel depends on several factors: where you're going, your health, travel purpose, trip length, time of year, accommodation, activities, and lifestyle. Backpacking, visiting family in rural areas, longer trips, and living abroad increase health risks.

Recognizing these risks, Argentina established its first Travel Medicine Center (CEMEVI) in a public hospital in 2008. This initiative addresses a critical need, providing travelers with essential pre- and post-travel medical advice. Understanding CEMEVI's experiences can help you stay healthy on your next adventure.

What are the Most Common Travel Health Risks?

Traveler standing on a globe surrounded by health and travel symbols.

When you travel, being aware of potential health issues is crucial. A significant number of travelers encounter health problems, highlighting the need for preparation and awareness. For every 100,000 travelers to developing countries staying at least a month, these are the approximate risks:

Many health challenges can arise during international travel:

50,000 may face a health issue.
8,000 might require medical assistance.
5,000 could need bed rest.
1,100 may be unable to work.
300 might need hospitalization.
50 could need evacuation from their destination.
Sadly, 1 may die from a travel-related illness.

According to medical records, injuries and infections are the primary health concerns for travelers. Historically, travel has always played a role in spreading diseases, underscoring the importance of taking precautions and staying informed. Recent outbreaks, like SARS in 2003 and the H1N1 influenza in 2009, demonstrate how quickly diseases can spread through international travel. Preparing for these risks and staying informed can significantly protect your health during your travels.

How to Prepare for a Healthy Trip?

Planning is key. The Travel Medicine Center (CEMEVI) in Argentina, found that most travelers they assisted came in before their trips. By visiting a travel clinic 4-6 weeks before traveling, you can get personalized advice, necessary vaccinations, and essential health information.

CEMEVI's data showed South America as a top destination for travelers, with 66% heading there, followed by Asia (13%) and Africa (13%). Most travelers stayed less than four weeks, and the majority traveled for leisure (80%). Key steps for planning a healthy trip include:

By taking these steps, you can significantly reduce your risk of health issues while traveling, ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.4067/s0716-10182012000300004, Alternate LINK

Title: Primer Centro De Medicina Del Viajero En Un Hospital Público De La Provincia De Buenos Aires, República Argentina: Dos Años De Experiencia

Subject: Infectious Diseases

Journal: Revista chilena de infectología

Publisher: SciELO Agencia Nacional de Investigacion y Desarrollo (ANID)

Authors: Amadeo Esposto, María L Yantorno, Karina Aguilera, Mónica Lares, Gloria De La Parra, Inés Roccia Rossi

Published: 2012-06-01

Everything You Need To Know

What are the most common health problems that travelers face?

The most common health challenges travelers encounter are injuries and infections. These can range from minor ailments to serious conditions. In addition, understanding the potential health risks is crucial. For instance, it is reported that out of 100,000 travelers to developing countries for at least a month, roughly 50,000 may face a health issue, with a small percentage requiring hospitalization or evacuation, or sadly, even death. The information highlights the necessity of being prepared for any health-related issue that may arise during travel.

How can I prepare for a healthy trip?

To prepare for a healthy trip, it is essential to plan in advance. The Travel Medicine Center (CEMEVI) in Argentina, advises travelers to seek medical advice and information before their trip. Specifically, visiting a travel clinic approximately 4-6 weeks before departure allows for personalized advice, required vaccinations, and crucial health information to ensure a safe and healthy journey. CEMEVI assists travelers by offering essential pre- and post-travel medical advice.

What is the Travel Medicine Center (CEMEVI) and why is it important?

The Travel Medicine Center (CEMEVI) is Argentina's first travel medicine center, established in a public hospital in 2008. Its significance lies in its proactive approach to traveler health, providing essential pre- and post-travel medical advice. This center addresses a critical need, recognizing the increasing health risks associated with international travel and the importance of informed preparation. By understanding the experiences and advice offered by CEMEVI, travelers can significantly improve their health outcomes during their travels.

What factors increase health risks while traveling?

Health risks during travel depend on a variety of factors. These include the destination, the traveler's current health status, the purpose of the trip, the length of the trip, the time of year, accommodation type, planned activities, and personal lifestyle. Higher risks are often associated with activities like backpacking, visits to rural areas, longer trips, and living abroad. The more these factors increase, the higher the likelihood of encountering a health issue.

Why is understanding travel health risks increasingly important?

The article highlights that globally, the travel industry is booming, with 1.5 billion people traveling by air and 700 million crossing international borders annually. This surge in travel underscores the importance of understanding and managing the associated health risks. Given the substantial number of travelers and the potential for widespread disease transmission, recognizing and mitigating health risks through preparation and awareness, such as visiting the Travel Medicine Center (CEMEVI), is more important than ever.