special subjects
Specific Medical Conditions and Travel
Pregnancy and Travel
Pregnancy is generally not affected by flying on a jet. However, pregnant women who are close to their due date (over 36 weeks gestation) and those at risk of Miscarriage , Pregnant women should avoid Vaccination Restrictions and Precautions , including yellow fever, measles-mumps-rubella, varicella (chickenpox), and typhoid fever by mouth (see table Pregnant women should avoid prolonged use of water purification tablets that contain iodine because iodine can affect development of the thyroid gland in the fetus. Pregnant women who cannot postpone travel to regions of the world where Malaria is common must weigh the risks of taking protective drugs whose effects on pregnancy are not well known against those of traveling without adequate protection. Pregnant women should consider delaying travel to areas where malaria is common because malaria is more likely to be serious and life threatening among pregnant women than among women who are not pregnant, even when preventive drugs are used. Pregnant women are also at risk of contracting Hepatitis E , a viral liver infection rare in the United States but common in Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Mexico. Miscarriage, liver failure, or death may result. There is no treatment, so postponing travel to regions where hepatitis E is common should be considered. Women who cannot postpone travel should be vigilant about hand washing and following safe food guidelines ( see Pregnant women should not travel to areas with risk of Zika Virus Infection . 