Travel Health Services

Travel Health Expertise in Central Massachusetts and Beyond

At UMass Memorial Health’s Travelers’ Health Service, our infectious disease specialists and nurse practitioners provide personalized travel counseling for adults and children. Our travel health experts use the latest information from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) about emerging and well-known diseases worldwide. 
Visiting our clinic before your trip can substantially reduce your risk of contracting an illness. We walk you through all necessary precautions for your upcoming trip, including travel immunizations and travel medications.

If you do become ill after traveling, we offer compassionate medical care from infectious disease specialists in tropical and international medicine. We will schedule either an urgent or routine appointment, depending on your health issues.

Should you become ill while traveling, seek evaluation immediately at the nearest medical clinic or facility. Before you travel, we can advise you to research the nearest medical facilities at your destination.

Travel Health Services We Offer

Preventive Counseling 

We can provide you with information about health concerns for the specific locations you’ll be visiting, including:

• How to access care in remote locations around the world
• Medical evacuation insurance
• Preventive medications for malaria
• Preventive therapy for high-altitude illnesses or motion sickness

Travel Immunizations 

We offer vaccines for many types of travel-related illnesses, including:

• Encephalitis
• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Influenza (flu)
• Measles-mumps-rubella (MMR)
• Meningococcal disease
• Pneumococcal disease
• Polio
• Rabies
• Tetanus/diphtheria
• Tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis (DTaP)
• Typhoid fever
• Yellow fever

Post-Travel Health Care

If you develop fever, chills, persistent diarrhea or any other symptoms after you return, please contact the Travelers’ Health Service. We diagnose and treat all travel-related diseases, including:

• Chikungunya
• Dengue fever
• Malaria
• Traveler’s diarrhea
• Zika virus

Who Should Visit the Travelers’ Health Service?

We strongly recommend that you visit the Travelers’ Health Service before going to most of the countries in the developing world, including:

• Africa
• Asia
• Caribbean Islands
• Central and South America
• Eastern and Southern Europe
• Middle East

You can especially benefit from preventive medical services if you will:

• Enter remote areas
• Have contact with animals
• Provide humanitarian relief or clinical care
• Visit tropical and subtropical regions or developing countries

Specialized Travel Health Expertise 

UMass Memorial travel specialists have specific expertise in advising travelers who are:

• Conducting scientific research outside the United States
• Diagnosed with underlying medical conditions or allergies
• Planning international adoption
• Pregnant
• Traveling with children or infants

Preparing for Your Visit

To get ready for your appointment at UMass Memorial’s travel health clinic, you should:

• Bring a detailed itinerary of your trip, including dates, locations, accommodations and planned activities.
• Bring your prior immunization records, including routine vaccines and any previous travel vaccines.
• Check with your health insurance regarding coverage of travel-related services. Some insurance plans do not cover travel medicine services such as counseling, medications, vaccines and lab tests.