The summer is over but travel plans continue as many North Georgians busily arrange for holiday vacations, business trips, family visits, response to international disaster or mission trips. Traveling any distance requires much preparation; however, traveling internationally can become quite complicated when it comes to health issues, and assistance is needed. That assistance is readily available for all North Georgians at the new Gilmer County International Travel Clinic.
Since international travel continues to grow significantly, including travel to developing areas of the world where visits were once rare, it is important that the traveler be prepared for possible exposure to various diseases. Generally, the risk of becoming ill during international travel depends on the region visited, but also, it depends on other factors such as age, health condition, length of stay and the activities planned. New or reemerging infectious diseases rarely seen currently in this part of the world may put the traveler at risk if exposed.The Gilmer County International Travel Clinic, located in the Gilmer County Health Department in Ellijay, Georgia, provides services that include a comprehensive assessment of the client’s health history, travel itinerary, travel risks and selection of the appropriate travel vaccines to ensure a healthy journey. The clinic is certified to administer the Yellow Fever vaccine and is a member of the International Society of Travel Medicine.
Hours of operation of the Gilmer County International Travel Clinic are 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each Monday, Wednesday and Thursday and from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. each Tuesday. The clinic closes for an hour at noon Monday through Thursday. The clinic is open each Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Travelers are encouraged to schedule a pre-travel clinic appointment at least 2 months prior to any international travel departure. This would provide enough time to receive immunizations and to begin building immunity to diseases that may be encountered on a particular journey. Travelers may call (706) 635-4363 and ask for the International Travel Clinic.
For more information and to download pre-travel forms from online, log onto www.nghd.org, then click on the Gilmer County International Travel Clinic logo.