Travel medicine for West Virginians.

Preparation for overseas travel often involves a prolonged search for expertise and necessary vaccinations that can be a formidable challenge to patients and physicians alike. Many primary care providers find themselves ill-equipped to provide up-to-date information for travel to undeveloped countries where there may be risks of diarrhea, malaria and other exotic diseases. However, basic travel advice can easily be incorporated into most practices with the help of regularly updated reference materials such as the CDC's Health Information for International Travel. More advanced assistance along with the necessary vaccinations is available throughout West Virginia at a number of travel clinics which are discussed in this article. Through greater awareness of travel issues and timely referral, physicians may expedite their patients' travel plans while safeguarding their health abroad.