Malaria may have been a curse of the colonists who settled Virginia, but today the state poses no unusual health threats. Although Virginia mosquitoes don't carry malaria, they are still rampant in the Tidewater during summer, especially in the marshes of Chincoteague, Assateague, and Tangier islands, so use plenty of insect repellent on the Eastern Shore.
General Availability of Healthcare
Contact the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (IAMAT; tel. 716/754-4883, or 416/652-0137 in Canada; www.iamat.org) for tips on travel and health concerns in the countries you're visiting, and for lists of local, English-speaking doctors. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (tel. 800/311-3435; www.cdc.gov) provides up-to-date information on health hazards by region or country and offers tips on food safety. The website www.tripprep.com, sponsored by a consortium of travel medicine practitioners, Travel Health Online, may also offer helpful advice on traveling abroad. You can find listings of reliable clinics overseas at the International Society of Travel Medicine (www.istm.org).
What To Do If You Get Sick Away From Home
Hospitals and emergency care facilities are widespread in Virginia, so unless you're deep in the backcountry, help will be close at hand.
In case of illness, consider asking your hotel concierge or staff to recommend a local doctor -- even his or her own. Most Virginia cities and towns have hospitals, and you can try their emergency rooms for assistance. Many have walk-in clinics for cases that are not life threatening. You may not get immediate attention, but you won't pay the high price of an emergency room visit (usually a minimum of $300 just for signing your name)
If you suffer from a chronic illness, consult your doctor before your departure. Pack prescription medications in your carry-on luggage, and carry them in their original containers, with pharmacy labels -- otherwise they won't make it through airport security. Visitors from outside the U.S. should carry generic names of prescription drugs. For U.S. travelers, most reliable healthcare plans provide coverage if you get sick away from home. Foreign visitors may have to pay all medical costs upfront and be reimbursed later.
