Media Release

This press release put out at the request of the Alachua County Health Department.

ALACHUA COUNTY, FL  – Relief workers and other travelers to Haiti are advised to contact their medical providers and foreign travel clinics for information related to communicable disease threats in that country.  “Recent events in Haiti have resulted in increased public health concerns to travelers.” stated Paul Myers, Assistant Director of the Alachua County Health Department.  “Minimizing adverse health impacts associated with travel to Haiti can be achieved by consulting with medical providers and foreign travel clinics”.

After the devastating Haiti earthquake in January of this year, significant numbers of relief workers including those from North Central Florida responded to the country’s public health needs.  Hurricane Tomas recently worsened already poor sanitary conditions.  Risks to travelers include but are not limited to mosquito borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, and the recent epidemic of cholera, an acute bacterial disease that has sickened thousands and killed hundreds.

Travelers to Haiti are encouraged to contact the Alachua County Health Department’s Foreign Travel Clinic well in advance of their trip at 352-334-8849.

For more information about the Alachua County Health Department, click here.

The goal of the Alachua County Health Department is to promote, protect, maintain and improve the health and safety of all citizens and visitors.