Before You Travel
Be sure you are up to date with all vaccinations, pack a travel health kit (see sidebar), familiarize yourself with the healthcare resources in the area(s) you will be visiting, and ensure that you have adequate health insurance abroad (education abroad participants are covered by the Berea College Student Accident and Health Insurance Program and have additional coverage through the International Student Identity Card).While Abroad
Monitor the local situation and follow local public health guidelines while continuing to practice healthy habits to stop the spread of novel H1N1 flu. Wash your hands often with soap and water; cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing; avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth; and avoid contact with sick people.After You Return
Closely monitor your health for 7 days. If symptoms of novel H1N1 flu appear, avoid close contact with others, unless you develop severe symptoms or are at high risk for complications. (See Information for Airline Passengers Exposed to Novel H1N1 Flu for further guidance from CDC.)If You Develop Symptoms of H1N1 Flu
If you develop H1N1 flu symptoms before, during, or after your trip, delay your travel and notify both the Center for International Education (cie[at]berea.edu) and College Health Service (healthservice[at]berea.edu) immediately. Do not return to campus while you have flu symptoms.
If your symptoms are severe or you are at high risk for complications (see sidebar), contact a healthcare provider to ascertain if novel H1N1 flu testing or treatment is needed. While abroad, a US consular officer can assist in locating medical services.If your symptoms are mild, stay at home (or wherever you are residing) for 7 days after your symptoms begin and avoid close contact with other people. The CDC expects that most people should recover without medical care.
Travel Health Kit
A Travel Health Kit includes basic first aid items, as well as personal prescription medications in original containers (be sure to take copies of your prescriptions), over-the-counter medication for pain and fever, cough suppressant, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, and other items (for a complete list, refer to Pack Smart).What does high risk mean?
People with chronic or long-term health problems (e.g., diabetes, asthma, kidney disease, etc.), as well as those with weakened immune systems, are at high risk of flu complications.Women who are pregnant are also at high risk.
