By NewsDesk  @infectiousdiseasenews

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reiterated the travel notice for Venezuela due to a breakdown of the health infrastructure. They recommend that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to Venezuela.

The country is experiencing outbreaks of infectious diseases, and adequate health care is currently not available in most of the country.

The humanitarian crisis, in addition to shortages in medicine and other supplies, includes shortages of food, water and electricity.

Venezuela is experiencing a number of infectious disease outbreak to include vaccine-preventable diseases like measles and diphtheria and the mosquito-borne parasitic disease, malaria.

If you must travel to Venezuela, then protect yourself by following the health advice of CDC (below) and reviewing the Department of State country information page for Venezuela.

    • Make an appointment with a travel medicine specialist or your healthcare provider to get needed vaccines and medicines at least 4 to 6 weeks before you leave.
      • CDC recommends all travelers be up to date on all recommended vaccines, such as the Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (DTaP) vaccine and Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) vaccine.
      • CDC recommends all travelers take prescribed medicine to prevent malaria.
    • Pack a travel health kit with your prescription medicines and over-the-counter medicines (enough to last your whole trip, plus a little extra), first aid supplies, and your health insurance card. Authorized humanitarian aid workers may need to pack additional items.
    • Monitor the Department of State’s Travel Advisory and Alerts for Venezuela.
    • Prepare for the unexpected.
      • Leave copies of your itinerary, contact information, credit cards, and passport with someone at home, in case they are lost during travel.
      • Buy travel health and medical evacuation insurance. If you are injured or get sick during your trip, medical care is likely to be unavailable in Venezuela.