Travel clinic aims to keep people healthy during foreign trips

ILLINOIS (25News Now) -Traveling to other countries can be fun and exciting, but there are risks.

Carle Health has a travel clinic in Bloomington to help tourists stay healthy during foreign journeys.

According to the World Health Organization. a change of environments can lead to problems.

“You’re exposed to different conditions and potential diseases, and that is where the travel clinic comes in. We can go in and look at the CDC recommendations and help you decide what vaccines are best for you and your situation,” said Amanda Kopsell, a registered nurse at the clinic.

Some countries may have higher health risks than others, said Kopsell.

“You go to somewhere to say South America or Africa. You have the potential to be exposed to Yellow Fever and Japanese Encephalitis which are rare but extremely deadly diseases,” she said.

“Populations are so high, and vaccinations are so low, so that is where we’re seeing measles cases coming from,” said Jennifer Call, owner of Peoria-based Call the Travel Agent.

Traveling could increase the risk of catching COVID-19, said the Mayo Clinic.

Call said she even caught COVID while traveling, so people just have to get used to that risk, just like catching a cold or the flu.

Kopsall, the travel clinic nurse, said there are certain vaccinations travelers need to take depending on where they’re going, and she recommends making an appointment in advance.

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