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• Infectious Diseases

Travel Medicine Clinics Overview

A visit to a Mayo Clinic travel medicine clinic before you depart on an international trip can help ensure a safer, smoother experience.

If you're planning a trip overseas, make one of your first stops a consultation with specialists in the travel medicine clinics at Mayo's campuses in Arizona, Florida and Minnesota. Availability of services may vary among locations. Please confirm when you request an appointment.

You meet with a travel medicine specialist who is knowledgeable about current health risks worldwide and who will promote safe and healthy travels by offering counseling, recommendations, vaccinations, prescriptions and, if needed, a referral to another expert for complex medical conditions.

Virtual visits

You might be eligible for virtual pretravel consultations. If you're interested in this option, talk with the patient appointment specialist when you contact us to schedule an appointment.

COVID-19 and international travel

International travel has become more complex due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and some countries have exit and entry requirements. Your travel medicine specialist will be able to help you prepare for these requirements so that you have a smoother travel experience.

Before your trip

Schedule an appointment for a pretravel consultation with a Mayo Clinic travel medicine clinic well before you depart so the travel medicine specialist can help you prepare. Ideally, this appointment would occur as soon as travel plans are established and at least two weeks — and preferably 4-8 weeks — before departure. When requesting an appointment for pretravel consultation, be prepared to inform the patient appointment specialist of the following:

• All countries being visited
• Dates and duration of travel
• Any unusual circumstances

At or preferably before the appointment, you will want to provide copies of all available immunization records (including the International Certificate of Vaccination, commonly referred to as the yellow card). Doing so will expedite your clinic visit and may decrease the number of vaccines you are advised to receive.

Your in-depth pre-travel consultation may include:

• A country-by-country assessment of all health risks specific for your travel itinerary, such as exotic infectious agents, altitude sickness and heat exhaustion
• A review of your medical and immunization history profile with advice for health promotion and illness prevention
• Advice for the high-risk traveler
• Immunization recommendations, counseling and administration of vaccines to prevent illnesses
• Vector precautions counseling
• Malaria prevention counseling, with prescriptions if needed
• Traveler's diarrhea counseling for prevention and self-treatment, with antibiotic prescription if needed
• Identification of health resources in the countries you'll be visiting
• Counseling on travel-related risks such as altitude sickness, with preventive prescriptions if needed
• An opportunity to ask questions about the unique health and safety concerns for your travel itinerary

You will leave your travel medicine clinic appointment with much helpful and up-to-date information.

After your trip

• Depending on where you're going and for how long, the travel clinic may recommend a routine follow-up evaluation after your return.
• If you return sick, the travel clinic staff members are Mayo Clinic infectious diseases experts who provide comprehensive post-travel consultations for evaluation and treatment of travel-related illness, including parasitic and other diseases common to tropical regions but uncommon in the United States.
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• Mayo Clinic Travel and Geographic Medicine Clinic
• 200 First St. SW East 6A, Mayo Building Rochester, MN 55905
• Phone: 507-255-7763 (toll-fee)
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Stay healthy abroad: Why you should see a travel medicine specialist before your trip

As you get ready to travel to another country, you probably have many details to coordinate and plan. One essential task, depending on where those travels take you, may be to make an appointment to see a travel medicine specialist.

A travel medicine specialist assesses travel-related risks and provides information to ensure your health and safety while minimizing the potential for health-related situations during on your trip.

Adding a consultation to your travel to-do list

A consultation with a travel medicine specialist includes discussing travel-related illnesses, risk factors for infectious and noninfectious diseases, required immunizations , health regulations and drug-resistant organisms you may encounter.

It's crucial to schedule a pretravel consultation at least two weeks or preferably, four to eight weeks, before your trip to ensure you get complete protection from any needed vaccinations.

When requesting a travel medicine consultation, be prepared to provide information about your trip, including:

• All countries you're visiting
• Any transportation, accommodation or other unusual circumstances
• Dates and duration of travel

A travel medicine specialist will review your itinerary before your consultation to identify country-by-country health risks, such as exotic infectious agents, the potential for altitude sickness or heat exhaustion, as well as appropriate vaccinations and possible need for malaria prevention medications.

Your opportunity to learn about staying healthy abroad

A consultation gives you the opportunity to learn about health risks you may face while you're traveling and once you reach your destinations.

Based on your itinerary, the travel medicine specialist may:

• Explain the risks of infection from mosquito-borne illnesses and the steps for protecting yourself. This includes reviewing medications to prevent malaria , which is a potentially life-threatening illness.
• Ensure you receive protection against vaccine-preventable illnesses, such as hepatitis A or typhoid fever , and verify that other routine vaccinations are current.
• Evaluate your overall health for travel and discuss with you how to manage preexisting conditions.
• Give tips for preventing jet lag, motion sickness, altitude illness and blood clots .
• Review how to prevent and treat traveler's diarrhea , the most common travel-related illness.
• Help you reduce the chance of becoming ill during travel.
• Provide a yellow fever vaccination and an International Certificate of Vaccination , also known as a yellow card, if you travel to a country where the vaccine is recommended or required.
• Review food and water precautions. Contaminated food and water can pose disease risk for travelers, many of which are transmitted via swallowing or coming in contact with impure water, such as fresh or sea water and swimming pools.

Be sure to ask the specialist any questions you may have about your personal health, and raise any safety concerns about your travel itinerary.

What to do if you got sick on your trip

Once you return home, a travel medicine specialist also can conduct a comprehensive post-travel evaluation of any illnesses you may have picked up while away, including parasitic infections and other tropical diseases that are rare in the U.S.

No matter the reason for travel — vacation, business, studying abroad, visiting friends or relatives or medical tourism — always be prepared, and take steps to ensure your health and safety.

Raj Palraj, M.B.B.S., M.D. , is an infectious diseases specialist in La Crosse , Wisconsin.

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Travel medicine – A comprehensive guide to safe world travel

Shiv charan.

Department of Pharmacology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India

Ajay Prakash

Bikash medhi.

Travel has become a crucial aspect of contemporary life in a connected globe. Millions of individuals cross borders every day, whether for travel, commerce, or humanitarian purposes. Recognizing the significance of travel medicine in preserving our health and advancing global health is crucial as we embrace the excitement of seeing new cultures and environments. This article clarifies the importance of travel medicine and exhorts travelers to put their health and safety first.

The rapid global spread of pathogens such as drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis , severe acute respiratory syndrome virus, novel influenza virus strains, and others over the past 10 years has presented challenges for the global public health community.[ 1 ] Despite this enormous number, there are 200 in-flight medical emergencies (IFMEs) globally per day, one serious in-flight emergency every 10–40,000 passengers, and around 0.35 fatalities per million incoming passengers yearly.[ 2 ] With aging and the rising geriatric population, preexisting medical problems account for around 67% of IFMEs.[ 3 ] Travelers are good sentinels for the early detection of infectious diseases, yet they also have the potential to spread infectious diseases that first appear in underdeveloped countries. The most effective places to quickly spot new infections and keep tabs on changing patterns in travel-related diseases are specialized travel and tropical medicine clinics.[ 1 , 3 ]

Vaccination or Travel Medicines for Different Continents

On six continents, GeoSentinel locations are specialized travel medicine clinics that gather clinician-based surveillance data on diseases associated with travel. Global health concerns consist of typhoid from South Asia, dengue from the Caribbean, Central America, and SE Asia, and African tick-typhus from Southern Africa, which were identified in a GeoSentinel analysis of nearly 17,000 sickly visitors.[ 4 ]

Yellow Fever

Tropical and subtropical regions of South America and Africa are home to yellow fever, a virus spread by mosquitoes. Aedes and Haemagogus mosquitoes are the main carriers of the disease. The disease is identified based on past travel to an endemic region, contact with infected mosquitoes, history of vaccination, symptoms, and test results. There is no permanent treatment, but fluids and vigorous supportive care are necessary in severe instances. Yellow fever can be prevented with a live-attenuated vaccine that is both secure and very effective, i.e. YF 17D vaccination, attenuated live. For 99% of patients, a single dose is effective within 30 days and offers lifetime immunity.[ 5 ]

Travel Medicines for Healthy Travelers

Before leaving on a trip, healthy travelers might benefit from taking a few measures and getting advice from travel medical experts, especially if they are going to a place where there are various health hazards. Healthy travelers should make sure their usual immunizations are current and should think about getting additional shots depending on where they are going. Hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus, diphtheria, and influenza vaccines are typical travel vaccines. It may also be advised to get shots for rabies, Japanese encephalitis, or yellow fever, depending on where you are going. Even for travelers who are normally in good health, travel medical specialists are well-equipped to offer advice and recommendations to ensure a safe and healthy vacation.[ 6 ]

Travelers who have Chronic Disease

Chronic disease patients are more likely to develop new illnesses or develop complications from current illnesses. While malaria continues to be the most frequent infectious disease, death connected to travel, motor vehicle injuries, and drowning are other significant preventable causes of death in travelers. People are suffering from chronic illnesses for longer periods of time and receiving cutting-edge therapies from numerous health-care professionals, which frequently leads to fragmented health care. Due to the increased accessibility of efficient medications, the recommendation of numerous chronic illnesses’ treatments in guidelines and modifications in patient expectations. Polypharmacy is becoming more and more prevalent. Patients who have several chronic conditions will often have a long number of diagnoses that have been made over many years.[ 7 ]

General Travel Medicines

Many people who travel internationally bring medications with them to manage short-term or long-term health issues. Nevertheless, each nation has its own laws governing medications. There is no specified drug development process for travel medicines. Pharmaceuticals that are often prescribed or supplied over the counter in the United States may be unregistered or seen as restricted pharmaceuticals in other nations. Even though regulations differ by nation, breaking local laws might have significant repercussions. Some of the general travel medicines are listed in Table 1 .

General travel medicines

Regulatory Acceptance Carrying Travel Medicines in Different Continents

It might be difficult for international travelers to carry drugs across borders. An independent treaty agency that operates internationally is the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB). Most nations have legislation that is based on a list of INCB guidelines that specify which pharmaceuticals and in what amounts may be imported. In Table 2 , the availability of official country-specific information for travelers-carrying drugs is shown.[ 8 , 9 ]

Carrying drugs in different nations approved by International Narcotics Control Board

*Narcotics, − Psychotropics, and +New Zealand data is not regularly updated. INCB=International Narcotics Control Board, NA=Unworkable

International Society for Travel Medicine: An Association Across the Globe

To fulfill the educational needs of both the public and specialists, the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) was founded in 1991. >4000 people worldwide are members of ISTM. ISTM is a thriving, diverse, multinational association dedicated to making continuous, sustained contributions to the global progress of travel medical practice and knowledge. The ISTM promotes and facilitates teaching, service, and research initiatives in the field of travel medicine in collaboration with health-care professionals, academic institutions, the travel industry, and the media.[ 10 , 11 ]

Travel Medicine for the Ocean

The health and safety of people who participate in activities that include underwater environments is the focus of the specialized discipline of medicine known as underwater travel medicine, commonly referred to as underwater or hyperbaric medicine. These activities include scuba diving, commercial diving, submarine operations, and even undersea building. It is advised that travelers schedule a pretrip consultation at a hospital whose staff members are appropriately knowledgeable and skilled in hyperbaric, tropical, and travel medicine.[ 12 ] Antimalarial medications are unknown to be safe and effective for travelers in a hyperbaric setting.[ 13 ] This field includes the medical issues related to these activities.

These are some essential components of travel medicine for the ocean as shown in Table 3 .

Essential components of travel medicine for the ocean

DCS=Decompression sickness, HBOT=Hyperbaric oxygen therapy

Travel Medicines for Sports Person

Sportspeople who travel for contests or training need to take special safety measures and pay attention to performance-enhancing factors to keep themselves healthy.[ 14 ] From a medical standpoint, more people attending these kinds of sports events raise the possibility of significant casualties. The medical staff providing coverage for the sporting event has to be equipped to handle any kind of emergency.[ 14 , 15 ] Crucial decisions are important regarding the nation or region you will be visiting [ Table 4 ].

Crucial decisions for athletes to carry medical kit

Travel Medicines for who Travel to High Attitude

A common leisure activity that carries a risk of high-altitude disease is traveling to elevations exceeding 2500 m. Up to 75% of hikers who attempt to ascend Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro (5895 m) are afflicted with acute mountain sickness (AMS). General practitioners ought to be qualified to offer helpful guidance on avoiding high-altitude sickness.[ 16 ] Due to pressed schedules, travelers—especially those traveling in organized groups—might not leave enough time for acclimatization, and in certain situations, chemoprophylaxis—which speeds up the body’s response to hypobaric hypoxia—might be necessary.[ 17 ]

Safety Guidelines for Disease and Vaccination While Traveling

Primary care doctors must evaluate the risk of travel and ensure that potential travelers are properly prepared for their excursions. It is advised to provide the proper vaccinations and to prepare an emergency pack. A posttrip follow-up procedure should be created, and the patient should be informed about safe travel practices.[ 18 ] According to a 2008 study on the prevalence of health issues, while traveling to underdeveloped nations, traveler’s diarrhea affects 20%–60% of all visitors.[ 18 , 19 ] To evaluate and reduce travel-related hazards, consultations with immunocompromised individuals should start many months before departure. Improved pretravel counseling and treatments come from a systematic strategy that takes into consideration each patient’s particular immunocompromised status.[ 20 ]

The General Protocol to Follow While Assessing the Travelers is as Follows

• Examine the health of the traveler
• Identify the illness exposure risk
• Administer vaccinations and pertinent counseling
• Medical care
• Counseling food and water.

Mobile Health Applications for Travel

The regulatory bodies ought to examine the ethical concerns surrounding travel-related mobile health applications, pinpoint significant ethical gaps, and make recommendations for crucial ethical issues that should be addressed in upcoming travel-related apps.[ 20 , 21 ] Utilizing mobile health applications on a smartphone is one strategy that has proven advantage due to improvements in the caliber of mobile health technology and the widespread use of smartphones, which permit real-time data gathering, monitoring traveler health behavior as well as faced dangers, has grown simpler and more reliable. Despite its many benefits, such as having access to real-time data, mobile applications for travel medicine have certain ethical issues, such as worries about security and privacy.[ 22 ] Travel medicine will change with the arrival of mobile health and medical applications.

Future Prospects of Travel Medicine in Terms of the Pandemic

A number of variables, such as improvements in medical research, modifications in travel habits, and the worldwide reaction to infectious diseases, are expected to have an impact on the future of travel medicine in light of the pandemic. Potential trends and developments include the following

• Passports for vaccinations and health certificates
• A more thorough pretrip health screening
• Emphasis on virtual consultations and telemedicine
• Quick diagnostic equipment
• New vaccine development and research
• Early warning and public health surveillance systems.

Travel medicine is a crucial component of modern travel. To be able to explore the world with confidence and come home with priceless memories, it is essential to take a proactive approach to travel medicine, which includes immunization, illness prevention, and managing preexisting medical concerns. Adopting travel medicine helps to protect our health as well as the worldwide effort to promote health and stop the spread of infectious illnesses.

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Travel Medicine

Preparing for international travel.

Going to Brazil? Jamaica? Japan? South Africa? Australia? Whether you are vacationing, working, volunteering, or living abroad, you should be prepared for possible illnesses and diseases that occur in other regions or countries. At SSM Health, our travel medicine specialists can help you learn how to avoid certain risk factors, how to best manage any pre-existing conditions, and what precautions need to be taken before you begin your journey. Talk to your primary care provider to learn more or contact an travel medicine specialist today. 

Who Should Receive Travel Medicine Services

People who benefit from our travel medicine services include:

• All international travelers
• Cruise and adventure travelers
• Peace Corps members
• Disaster relief volunteers and staff
• Foreign-born nationals
• Missionaries and missions volunteers
• Students and school travel groups
• Military and reserve personnel
• Expectant women and children
• People with disabilities or health conditions, who plan to travel

Travel Medicine Services

Travel medicine is more than just immunizations, although it is the place to go for those necessary shots. Our expert travel medicine staff advise on travel health concerns, so you know what to expect during your trip.

At your appointment, you'll also receive the most current destination-specific recommendations from multiple resources, including updates about disease outbreak information, CDC guidelines and US State Department travel advisories. Our services include:

• Pre-trip health and safety counseling
• Country-specific information regarding disease risk and travel advisories/warnings
• Hepatitis A & B
• Yellow Fever
• Meningococcal
• Japanese B Encephalitis
• Routine immunizations
• Malaria Prophylaxis
• Travelers' Diarrhea
• Altitude Illness
• Motion Sickness
• Safety information for disaster relief volunteers deployed overseas or to affected regions in the United States
• Post-trip health evaluations

Plan Ahead for Appointments

Some immunizations require several weeks prior to travel for full effectiveness, so try to make an appointment six to eight weeks before you leave. If you've missed that timeline, it's still a good idea to make an appointment before your trip.

• Bring your immunization records to the appointment, if available.
• Bring your trip itinerary with you if possible, so that we can make the most appropriate recommendations.

The consultation visit usually lasts 30-60 minutes depending on the number and types of vaccines that a patient receives.

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Volume 31, Issue 4, May 2024

Travel and sex: addressing the spread of sexually transmitted infections.

Travellers are at risk of STIs. The relationship between travel and STIs is obvious, as evidenced by the histories of syphilis, HIV infection and more recently, Mpox. STIs continue to emerge. Antimicrobial resistance is a huge concern. Thus, the importance of safer sex and condom use should be re-emphasized.

• View article

Perspective

From geosentinel data to epidemiological insights: a multidisciplinary effort towards artificial intelligence-supported detection of infectious disease outbreaks, a decalogue for personalized travel health assistance with ai-driven chatbots.

This article delves into the innovative integration of AI-driven chatbots in travel medicine, proposing a decalogue for creating effective, personalized health assistance tools with a practical example (a custom GPT, with OpenAI GPT-4).

• Supplementary data

Novel chikungunya and dengue vaccines: travel medicine applications

Recent epidemics of dengue and chikungunya have highlighted the urgent need for vaccines to reduce the risk of infection in travellers. Given challenges with tracking chikungunya outbreaks in real-time and the widespread resurgence of dengue, broader indications for the use of the new chikungunya and dengue vaccines should be considered.

Recreational substance use among international travellers

Integrating sexual and reproductive health into pre-travel consultations, a systematic review and meta-analysis of sexually transmitted infections and blood-borne viruses in travellers, original article, intestinal protozoa in returning travellers: a geosentinel analysis from 2007 to 2019, escalating climate-related health risks for hajj pilgrims to mecca, effect of textile colour on vector mosquito host selection: a simulated field study in mali, west africa, temporal variations in international air travel: implications for modelling the spread of infectious diseases, discrepancies in dengue burden estimates: a comparative analysis of reported cases and global burden of disease study, 2010–2019, clinical pearls, lyme borreliosis in a french expatriate in india.

Lyme borreliosis is known to be endemic in temperate countries of the Northern hemisphere but is rarely reported in other regions of the world. Here, we describe a rare diagnosis in a traveller returning from India, who presented with two erythema migrans.

A case of leprosy in an immunocompromised traveller

We describe a case of leprosy in an immunocompromised Dutch male whose parents were born in a leprosy-endemic country. The use of immunosuppressive drugs in Mycobacterium leprae infected individuals therefore increases the risk of development of leprosy. Exposure and infection at a young age through his parents is another possible risk factor.

A ‘ring in ring’ skin infection in a returning traveller

A 40-year-old woman developed an itchy, expanding cutaneous lesion with two erythematous rings after visiting Senegal. Fungal culture revealed Microsporum audouinii , a fungus causing tinea corporis or capitis commonly in Africa but increasingly reported in outbreaks in Europe.

Rapid Communication

Cyclones and flooding in tropical northern australia increase the risk of exposure to melioidosis.

Due to two recent cyclones in North Queensland, leading to widespread flooding, working holiday visa holders, typically backpackers, are now permitted to assist in cleanup efforts. Melioidosis, endemic in tropical Northern Australia, is a rare but potentially fatal bacterial infection. Travel health advice for backpackers to Australia should include appropriate information.

Wastewater-based epidemiological surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 new variants BA.2.86 and offspring JN.1 in South and Southeast Asia

Discover the shifting landscape of SARS-CoV-2 variants from October to December 2023, with JN.1 dominating South and Southeast Asia wastewater samples, increasing from <10% to >90%. Experience the dynamic evolution of viral strains in this period.

Protection of natural infection against reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant

Overall effectiveness of infection in preventing reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 JN.1 variant was estimated at 1.8% (95% CI: −9.3to 12.6%), and demonstrated rapid decline over time since the previous infection, decreasing from 82.4% (95% CI: 40.9 to 94.7%) within 3 to less than 6 months, to a negligible level after one year.

Research Letter

Lack of a non-specific protective effect of prior yellow fever vaccination against covid-19.

Live-attenuated virus vaccines, such as yellow fever vaccine, exhibit non-specific immunomodulatory effects, prompting exploration of their potential impact on COVID-19 pandemic. In this retrospective study, we didn’t observe an association between prior yellow fever vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 infection incidence. In the multivariate model, no association was found with COVID-19 prognosis.

Definition and classification of ‘travellers’ in research: a bibliometric analysis

Despite the growth in the volume of vulnerable travellers globally, there has been limited research attention, underscoring the need for more evidence as these individuals are susceptible to various travel-related health risks. Additionally, we observed inconsistencies in the definition of travellers and discrepancies in travel-related publications compared to the actual travel volume.

Use of Dengvaxia® in Australian travellers: a case series

Dengvaxia is the only licensed dengue vaccine in Australia, but rarely used. We report the experience of using Dengvaxia in seven Australian travellers. Main reasons for opting for vaccination were travel to dengue-endemic regions and severe symptoms during the prior dengue infection. The vaccine was well tolerated by all travellers.

Sexually transmitted infections among pregnant Syrian refugee women seeking antenatal care in Lebanon

The prevalence of Chlamydia trachomatis , Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Trichomonas vaginalis was determined among 431 pregnant Syrian refugee women seeking antenatal care in Lebanon. Low prevalence at 0.5% for chlamydia, 0.2% for trichomoniasis and 0.0% for gonorrhoeae was detected, suggesting a low burden of sexually transmitted infection in this population.

A randomized controlled trial of two hepatitis A vaccine doses among adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Crohn’s disease on immunosuppressive therapy: a pilot study

This pilot randomized controlled trial assessed the immunogenicity of paediatric vs adult hepatitis A vaccine doses in immunosuppressed adolescents (12–15 years) with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and Crohn’s disease. The study aimed to assess if a single, higher dose provides better immunogenicity, particularly before travel.

Zika infection among international students after five months in Thailand

Zika virus outbreak was traced among international students in Thailand. Testing was prompted by a single symptomatic case, which revealed seropositivity in two students. These results highlight the potential risk of Zika and emphasize the importance of implementing preventive measures for those travelling to endemic regions such as Thailand.

Letters to the Editor

Visa relaxation policies and potential implications on public health in africa.

In this article, we explore how Africa’s visa relaxation policies could transform public health landscapes, with the potential of increasing access to healthcare and collaborative disease control while also posing challenges in managing infectious disease spread amidst already porous borders. We also suggest recommendations to some of the challenges.

Correspondence

Silent spread of denv-3 in brazil: autochthonous outbreak in são paulo after 15 years.

The high incidence of dengue in Brazil and re-emergence of DENV-3 in São Paulo after a 15-year absence, coupled with the potential risk for DENV-4, may be the results from changing climate patterns favouring Aedes mosquito proliferation, allied by the resuming of domestic and international travels.

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Travel Medicine

The hospitals and clinics of Hawaii Pacific Health are in a unique position to deliver world-class travel medicine, as our islands serve as a gateway to so many countries around the world.

Our experts are up-to-date on current health risks around the globe to make sure that all travelers are well prepared for a safe and healthy trip. For those who come home sick, we are here with expert diagnosis and treatment.

Travel Medicine at Straub

Travel Medicine on Oahu

Straub has physicians who are members of the International Society of Travel Medicine and available to discuss travel concerns with patients. There are well-established preventive measures for almost every health issue that falls under the scope of Travel Medicine. Vaccinations, for example, can help to immunize a traveler against certain common diseases in the country of destination.

Our travel medicine physicians offer a variety of immunizations, including: 

• Hepatitis A
• Hepatitis B
• Yellow Fever
• Meningococcal
• Japanese Encephalitis
• Chicken Pox
• Hemophitus B Influenza

It is recommended patients receive their necessary travel vaccinations as soon as their itinerary is planned in order to provide the greatest number of vaccination options as well as allowing time for any series of vaccinations issued. Children under 18 should be seen by their pediatrician for any travel immunizations.

Insurance coverage varies according to each patient's plan. We recommend that you check with your insurance carrier.

Straub Travel Clinic: 1-808-529-4949

This service is available at:   Straub Wilcox

Visitors to Hawaii Hawaii is a paradise known for the sun, the sea, and all things natural. To make sure your stay goes well, be respectful of the power of these natural forces to avoid injury and illness.

Helpful Tips:

• In Hawaii, ocean safety is very important. If advised not to swim — don't. Heed the international signage at local beaches alerting you to rough sea conditions, rip currents, jellyfish and high surf.
• When hiking the wilderness, be sure to check in with park rangers first. It's not uncommon to get lost in an unfamiliar environment. And make sure to wear appropriate footwear at all times.
• A word of caution about the sunshine: it is much stronger than many visitors are accustomed to on the mainland. Use sunscreen and reapply liberally all day long. Protect children with sunblock containing zinc oxide or the latest in "sun suits" that block harmful rays. Hats and sunglasses are also a must.

Hawaii Residents Planning to Travel Overseas Planning a trip overseas? Travelers need to be aware of the health risks unique to their destination. Some countries have problems maintaining a sanitary water supply. Other countries have diseases that Americans may not normally be exposed to. You should plan ahead before international travel to prevent health problems before they occur, so you can have a fun and safe trip.

Here are some steps you can take to prepare for your trip:

• Educate yourself about the health risks in the country you are visiting. What are common diseases? How can you protect yourself from insect bites? Your travel medicine doctor will have educational material that will prepare you for your trip and your destination.
• Immunize yourself to those diseases found in that country. Your travel medicine doctor will have access to all the current diseases and outbreaks in various areas of the world and will advise you accordingly. Plan to seek advice four to six weeks before you depart on your trip to allow adequate time for immunization. This immunization process may take a few weeks, so it is important to allow your body time to adjust before you travel.
• Have fun while visiting your destination, but be cautious. Unlike the U.S., many foreign governments do not regulate the safety of boats, equipment and vehicles. In addition, travelers are advised to check with their Personal Care Physician (PCP) if they have health problems prior to traveling. It is recommended that travelers carry a note stating any significant medical condition, list of medications currently being taken, any allergies, and the name and phone number of an emergency contact person and their treating physician. Also, carry sufficient quantities of your prescription medication and a first aid kit. The first aid kit should include over-the-counter medication such as Aspirin or Tylenol, sun block, antihistamine, antibiotic ointment, Band-Aids, anti-diarrhea and calamine lotion.

Public health agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have set up guidelines and health information for the international traveler and can provide general health information about your destination.

Helpful Links: 

• Center for Disease Control (CDC)
• Hawaii Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
• Kauai Visitors Bureau

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Dr. Jessica E. Bonnett DO

Family Medicine

Gritman Medical Center

Patient Rating

11 - 20 Years of Experience

Patient Awards

in 9 condition s

623 S Main St , Moscow , ID

Doctor's Details

Specialties

Subspecialties

General Family Medicine

Makes time for patients

Spends appropriate amount of time with patient and provides thorough examinations.

Listens attentively

Rated highly on their manner and listening skills.

Provides clear explanation

Provides clear information and answers questions in a way patients understand.

Patient Experience

Very Positive

30 Reviews Total | 0 Reviews Within Last 12 Months

Thoroughness of Examination

Previous patients' satisfaction in their perception of the thoroughness of the examination they received from this physician

Ability to Answer Questions

Previous patients' assessment of this physician's ability to answer all of their questions

Provider's follow-up

Previous patients' satisfaction of the followup care they received from this physician and responsiveness to their concerns

Amount of Time with Patient

Previous patients' satisfaction with the time this physician spent with them during appointments

Provider's Attitude

Previous patients' assessment of this physician's friendliness and caring attitude

Perceived Outcomes

Previous patients' satisfaction with the physician's treatment of a condition or outcome of a procedure

Patient Loyalty

Previous patients' trust in this physician, likelihood to see this physician again, or willingness to recommend this physician to another patient

General Feedback

Previous patients' general assessment of this physician

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Areas of expertise for dr. bonnett.

This doctor provides the following types of care. The more often a doctor has treated a particular condition or has performed a particular surgery, the more expertise they may have in treating patients with similar needs. Based on three years (2020-2022) of Medicare Fee for Service data (which does not include Medicare Advantage), each scale below indicates the number of patients treated relative to other doctors who treat the same condition. Note that this doctor may treat patients who are not covered by Medicare and are therefore not included in this analysis. Click here to learn more about our methodology.

Chronic diabetes Chronic diabetes is a condition where your body has trouble controlling the levels of sugar in your blood. It requires careful management.

Hypertension (Chronic) Chronic high blood pressure (hypertension) means your heart has to work harder to pump blood. It's important to manage it to keep your heart and blood vessels healthy.

Underactive thyroid An underactive thyroid, hyeothyroidism, means your thyroid gland isn't making enough hormones, which can lead to fatigue and other symptoms.

Looking for something else?

Check to See if Dr. Jessica E. Bonnett Accepts Your Insurance

Accepts Medicare

Please contact your provider to confirm if they accept your insurance.

Insurance Carrier

Aetna, Cigna, etc.

Accepted Insurance Plans

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

CMS Medicare

United Healthcare

Don`t see your plan listed? Click here to find providers that accept your insurance .

Family Medicine Doctors Like Dr. Bonnett Near Me

Keith Gautreaux MD

Pullman , WA

Richard Emtman MD

Stephen Hall MD

Richard Howe MD

Location & Contact Information

Doctor Address

623 S Main St, Moscow, ID, 83843

Affiliated Hospitals

Where does Dr. Bonnett practice?

Doctor’s Office

Gritman Medical Center, Inc.

Here are other providers that practice at the same doctor's office:

Jacques Bouchard

Ronald Baldwin

Patricia Marciano

Robert Ting

Helen Shearer

Jessica Bonnett

Nancy Elsbury

Michael Fields

Jacob Christensen

Carolyn Shoemaker

Physician Assistant

Julia Menard

Family Nurse Practitioner

Nicole Dwyer

Wendy Goodrich

Robin Sautter

Bryn Parker

Hospital Affiliations

Gritman medical center moscow, id, education & experience, medical school & residency.

Touro University California

Medical School

Mercy Medical Center (Redding)

Residency , Family Medicine , 2010 - 2013

Certifications & Licensure

American Board of Family Medicine

Certified in Family Medicine

ID State Medical License

Active through 2024

CA State Medical License

Active through 2021

Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Bonnett

Can i make an appointment online with dr. bonnett , does dr. bonnett offer telehealth, what do patients say about dr. bonnett , dr. bonnett accepts insurance, where is dr. bonnett's office located, what are dr. bonnett's areas of care.

Let us know if this information is out of date or incorrect.

Are you Dr. Jessica E. Bonnett ?

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Recommendations for Ages 18 Years or Younger, United States, 2024

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Local woman named world expert in wilderness medicine. Here’s her advice on safe hiking

W hen she’s not working in the emergency room at St. Anthony Hospital in Gig Harbor, there’s a decent chance you’ll find Dr. Ann Bowers outdoors.

She climbed Mount Rainier a couple years ago. She snowboards, bikes and scuba dives. Backpacking, she said, is her “absolute favorite.”

Bowers is part of the Kitsap County chapter of Washington Explorer Search and Rescue and serves as a medical adviser for the Willamette Pass Ski Patrol in Oregon. She’s also one of the world’s foremost experts in wilderness medicine.

The Wilderness Medicine Society honored her recently as one of the only people in the world to achieve the group’s “Triple Crown” designation.

“Dr. Bowers joins the inaugural group of recipients, with only six individuals in the world having achieved this recognition to date,” the society said in a news release earlier this year.

To receive the award, Bowers needed a Diploma in Diving & Marine Medicine, Diploma in Mountain Medicine, and Fellowship in the Academy of Wilderness Medicine.

“It’s quite involved,” Bowers told The News Tribune. “It takes a lot of time, and it takes physical stamina.”

Bowers said it’s not uncommon for people to take up to five years to complete any one of the three, let alone all of them. She started in 2018 and finished in 2023.

There are various conferences required, academic courses and experience in the field. For instance, she had to get trained and certified as a rescue diver, among other things.

The mountain medicine prong is probably the most strenuous, she said. The training involves practicing rope rescues on cliffs and crevasse rescues. Among other things, they simulate falling into a crevasse and have to perform a rescue while hanging in the air.

The idea to identify and honor those few who earn all three designations came about at the society’s conference in Spokane last year, Wilderness Medical Society spokesperson Kelly George told The News Tribune via email.

“A few additional recipients will be recognized this summer, but the Triple Crown will remain an honor bestowed upon less than .003% of our 4,000+ members worldwide,” George wrote. “Each one of these certifications is a tremendous accomplishment in itself, so to have all three truly is remarkable.”

The award is “a testament to their commitment to excellence and the highest standards of patient care in challenging environments,” WMS President Dr. Jennifer Dow said in the release.

Tragedy in the backcountry leads to training

It was about seven years ago that Bowers really got involved with the Wilderness Medicine Society and started training others, she said.

She has two sons who are Eagle Scouts, ages 20 and 21, and she started teaching wilderness first aid to the scouting community.

There had been two deaths of scouts in the United States around that time, within a couple months of each other. She didn’t know either scout, but their deaths prompted her to get increasingly involved with wilderness-medicine training. She believes with the right training such deaths are avoidable.

One was due to an altitude illness.

“Unfortunately they were up there for a couple nights,” she said. “They didn’t really know what they were dealing with.”

The second death happened when a scout was caught in an extreme heat environment on an extended hike and suffered heat stroke.

“Better training would have prevented both of those deaths,” Bowers said.

Now she teaches a 16-hour course over two days to those who want to learn wilderness first-aid.

Wilderness preparedness and first-aid basics

Bowers said one of the key things is to understand the risks of the environment you’re going into and to make sure you have the right education and fitness for it. Extreme heat requires different preparedness than extreme cold, for instance.

“Know your limits,” Bowers said. “Make sure you train for what you’re going to be doing.”

She said having the right tools and knowing how and when to use them is important. Hikers need to carry the 10 essentials , she said, and she adds an 11th: communication devices. A phone, whistle, signal mirrors and beacons are options.

You need to know your water sources and to have basic survival techniques and navigation skills before heading out, she said.

If you do get lost, stay together as a group, build a shelter, and stay put, Bowers said. It’s harder for search crews to find you if you’re on the move.

The rule of threes is that you can generally survive three minutes without air, three hours without shelter in tough conditions, three days without water and three weeks without food.

“I think the more knowledge you have, the safer you are,” she said.

It’s important not to rely on one person in the group to have all the survival knowledge and tools, she said, in case something happens to that person. Everyone on a trip should have a personal first-aid kit.

She encourages hikers to start with a basic first-aid kit and add in what they find useful.

“Get familiar with blister bandages and make sure you have some,” she said.

Any water that’s treated to drink can be used to clean wounds, but hikers shouldn’t close wounds unless they’ve been trained how, she said. It’s easy to inadvertently seal in bacteria. A Ziploc bag with a puncture can be used to irrigate wounds, she said.

Hikers also need to know the types of wildlife they may encounter, what to do if that happens, and to practice enough to be prepared to act. An example: Having bear spray buried in a pack does no good. Having it on your hip, ready to quickly use, does.

Bowers cautioned that we live at sea level in the Puget Sound, which means sometimes we’re not prepared for the altitude change when we rapidly ascend mountains in the region. And we’re not always prepared for the snow and rapidly changing weather that we encounter.

“We don’t always appreciate that it’s not just a simple hike,” she said.