In this episode, host Jill Morgan explores essential steps for a safe vacation, highlighting the risks of unexpected illnesses while traveling. She’s joined by Dr. Henry Wu, associate professor of infectious diseases at Emory University and director of the Emory TravelWell Center, and Dr. Laura Dickson, assistant professor in UTMB’s Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Together, they discuss key health precautions—from vaccinations to mosquito repellents—to help you stay healthy and make the most of your next travel adventure.

Whether you’re heading to a tropical destination or just want to stay informed about travel health, this episode provides expert advice and practical tips to ensure you return home with great memories—not an unwanted illness.

Tune in now for Spring Break Fever: Travel Health Tips for a Safe Trip on Transmission Interrupted.

Questions or comments for NETEC? Contact us at info@netec.org.

Visit Transmission Interrupted on the web at netec.org/podcast.

Guests

Laura Dickson, PhD 

Assistant Professor, Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology

UTMB

Henry Wu, MD, DTM&H 

Associate Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Dept. of Medicine

Emory School of Medicine

Host

Jill Morgan, RN

Emory Healthcare, Atlanta, GA

Jill Morgan is a registered nurse and a subject matter expert in personal protective equipment (PPE) for NETEC. For 35 years, Jill has been an emergency department and critical care nurse, and now splits her time between education for NETEC and clinical research, most of it centering around infection prevention and personal protective equipment. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), ASTM International, and the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI).

Resources

• CDC About Mosquito Bites: https://www.cdc.gov/mosquitoes/about/about-mosquito-bites.html
• CDC Traveler's Health Website: https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel
• Emory TravelWell Center: https://www.emoryhealthcare.org/centers-programs/travelwell/
• U.S. State Department Travel Advisories: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/
• Travel-Related Infectious Diseases: A Guide for Health Care Professionals: https://netec.org/2023/08/08/travel-related-infectious-diseases-a-guide-for-health-care-professionals/
• NETEC Resource Library: https://repository.netecweb.org

About NETEC

A Partnership for Preparedness

The National Emerging Special Pathogens Training and Education Center’s mission is to set the gold standard for special pathogen preparedness and response across health systems in the U.S. with the goals of driving best practices, closing knowledge gaps, and developing innovative resources.

Our vision is a sustainable infrastructure and culture of readiness for managing suspected and confirmed special pathogen incidents across the United States public health and health care delivery systems.

For more information visit NETEC on the web at www.netec.org.

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NETEC offers free virtual and onsite readiness consulting to help health care facilities and EMS agencies prepare for special pathogen events. Our targeted support services are delivered by experts selected and assigned to each inquiry based on the unique needs of your organization. Have a question? Ask a NETEC expert.

For more information visit: netec.org/consulting-services.