HHS HealthBeat (August 13, 2007)

Read the Yellow Book before you turn green

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

It’s not what you’d call a vacation read, but the Yellow Book might be something to check out before you leave the country. The Yellow Book – it gets its name from the color of the cover – summarizes injuries and diseases that may await you abroad, actions to prevent them, and how they can be treated if you get them anyway.

The book – formally Health Information for the International Traveler – is a product of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC’s Christie Reed:

``It’s for anyone who travels abroad, whether for business, pleasure, if they’re adopting internationally, or for immigrants who go home to see friends and relatives.’’ (9 seconds)

Also to give advice to travel industry and health care workers.

You can read the Yellow Book online, or order it from a bookstore.  

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: August, 10 2007