More Myths about travel in El Salvador

# 2 Myth: Contractible diseases are common in El Salvador

The Center for Disease Control (CDC ) lists a number of vaccinations/precautions travelers should take before traveling to El Salvador. It is always good to consult your primary care physician before traveling to any foreign country to discuss the recommendations. Your physician knows your baseline health and can help determine whether you would benefit from these vaccines or not. Some countries seem to elicit more concern regarding these warnings/recommendation than others. For instance, I have heard for years that you have to be careful when traveling to El Salvador because of all the diseases you can contract there. The warnings/precautions/recommendations are the same for El Salvador as they are for all other Central American countries, the Caribbean Islands, Mexico -- including popular areas such as Cancun, Puerta Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas and Mazatlan. When people travel to these areas, they don't often consult the CDC guidelines. I imagine they are familiar with these destinations, have had friends and family that have traveled to these areas and have not heard of many -- if any -- instances of malaria, dengue, or other ailments mentioned on the travel sites. It is my opinion that once more people become familiar with El Salvador, the concerns about these diseases will be less. Pack your bug spray and avoid mosquito bites -- that will be your best safeguards against contracting arboviral (transmitted through insect bites such as mosquitoes or ticks) diseases. Consult your doctor before traveling and you will be able to make a well informed decision that will be best for you.