Adventure sports and wilderness activities expose participants to various risks; additional training may be warranted to keep these risks under control. Popular weekend and vacation destinations for Americans are the American and Caribbean tropics. Overall health risks for traveling in the American and Caribbean tropics are moderate to high. The warm and humid climate contributes to risks of both foodborne and vector-borne diseases. Sanitation levels vary and with it the risk of travelers’ diarrhea and other foodborne diseases. Dengue and chikungunya are endemic in some areas. Seafood poisoning is common, with ciguatera being the most prevalent cause. Health care services in the United States are excellent, but in rural areas health care is not always readily available. Emergency medical services are not free, and health care in the United States can be very expensive, so health insurance is highly recommended.
49
