Disease and
Immunization Facts

AIDS | Cholera | Hepatitis A | Hepatitis B | Influenza | Japanese Encephalitis | Malaria | Measles, Mumps, Rubella | Meningococcal Disease | Rabies | Tetanus, Diphtheria and Poliomyelitis | Tuberculosis | Typhoid Fever | Yellow Fever | Dengue Fever

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Poliomyelitis

What Is It?

• Tetanus (Lockjaw) is a rare but severe disease that causes muscle contractions which can lead to breathing problems and even death
  
• Tetanus can occur if contaminated soil enters cuts or wounds, such as a burn
  
  
• Diphtheria is a disease of the respiratory passages, transmitted from person-to-person, which may cause severe heart disease
• In the developing world, diphtheria is sometimes spread via unpasteurized milk
  
  
• Polio is a widespread disease in the developing world outside North and South America, which may result in paralysis
  
• Polio is transmitted primarily through food or water contaminated with feces

Prevention Tips

• You should have your first (primary) immunization series against tetanus, diphtheria, and polio during childhood
  
• If you're traveling with infants and children, you should discuss their immunization needs, especially if traveling for extended periods of time, which might interrupt your child's normal immunization schedule

Available Immunizations

• A booster dose against tetanus and diphtheria is recommended every 10 years, whether traveling abroad or not
  
• If you have not received the complete primary series, consult your health care professional about completing it
• A booster dose against tetanus and diphtheria is recommended every 10 years, whether traveling abroad or not
  
• If you have not received the primary series, then you should receive at least two doses of polio vaccine 4 weeks apart prior to departure, if time allows
  
• Please consult your travel clinic physician to determine which vaccines are appropriate for you