The Center for Disease Control is a United States federal agency located in Atlanta, Georgia that is operated as an independent non-profit group. It was formed by the Department of Health and Human Services to safeguard the public health and safety of citizens who move in and out of the country. This organization was originally founded in 1942 shortly after World War II as the Office of National Defense Malaria Control Activities. It is now used as a channel to inform persons and aid them to make proper decisions concerning their health. The aim of the establishment is to apply health precautions and control techniques to protect persons from environmental ailments like infectious diseases.
Persons should try and consult the CDC prior to visiting a foreign countries, this will inform you about any possible epidemics that may be affecting a country. Some of the more well known ailments include Swine Flu, Malaria, Typhoid, Hepatitis B. Outside of environmental health threats, the entity also seek to educated persons on chronic diseases, injury control, disabilities, terrorism preparedness, workplace hazards. CDC is now also combats emerging diseases including birth defects, West Nile virus, obesity, avian, swine, and pandemic flu, E. coli, auto wrecks, and bioterrorism, to name a few.
The CDC would then provide information to travelers in regards to the precautions that they need to take for protecting themselves against these ailemts when going across certain borders. The CDC have made spin off centers that persons can visit to get information. The CDC also offers a website you can go to for information, there you can receive general tips for protecting your health while you are travelling. You can also get advice on the necessary vaccinations for travelling to certain countries. Individuals should ensure that they recheck their immunization information to see that they are current.
Persons who travel and have trouble with certain ailments should carry all their medications along with them. Individuals who have certain health issues such as asthma, a lot of times require their medication to survive in case they get an attack, so it is very important that they travel with it. Before you visit a country take some time to find out what is taking place in the environment. This can be done by browsing through newspapers or news on the web, they may provide information you need to know about what is taking place in that region, healthwise. You may also check with the American Embassy for more information.
Sometimes the CDC provides alerts and recommendations for certain countries. For example there have been instances that the CDC have asked persons to suspend their visits to Mexico due to a possible outbreak of the Swine Flu, so persons were asked to refrain from visiting Mexico unless completely necessary|called for. The CDC advices that after persons return from a trip they should monitor their health for at least seven days after they have returned home. There is usually an incubation period after exposure to a illness so persons should monitor themselves to see if there may have been ailments you have overlooked.