Cross-Cultural Solutions cannot provide medical or health recommendations, but we can connect you with resources where you can find thorough and up-to-date information.
To find the most current travel health information, we recommend that you contact the Centers for Disease Control or UK Department of Health.
Your Tropical Disease Center, internist, or infectious disease specialist will also be able to advise you on the most current travel health requirements. Be sure to see your doctor four to six weeks before your program to allow time for the immunizations to take effect.
Guidelines from the CDC
Below are a few excerpts on food and water precautions issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
- To avoid illness, food should be selected with care. All raw food is subject to contamination. The traveler should be advised to avoid salads, uncooked vegetables, unpasteurized milk and to eat only food that has been cooked and is still hot, or fruit that has been peeled by the traveler. Undercooked and raw meat, fish, and shellfish may carry various intestinal pathogens. Cooked food that has been allowed to stand for several hours at ambient temperatures may provide a fertile medium for bacterial growth and should be thoroughly reheated before serving.
- Some species of fish and shellfish can contain poisonous biotoxins, even when well cooked. The most common type of fish poisoning in travelers is ciguatera fish poisoning. Barracuda is the most toxic fish and should always be avoided. Red snapper, grouper, amberjack, sea bass, and a wide range of tropical reef fish contain the toxin at unpredictable times.
- Memorize this phrase: "Eat hot cooked foods and fruits that you peel yourself." If it does not meet one of these criteria, don't eat it. Breads and toast that have cooled are also safe as long as they are not stored in open areas prone to flies or water.
For more country-specific information, download our table of recommended health precautions and immunizations.
