Along with securing a passport, packing bags and filling out paper work, MSU health officials encourage students to take health precautions when studying abroad.

"When you travel abroad, you want to stay healthy and prevent getting any diseases," MSU Travel Clinic nurse Mary Ellen O'Doherty said. "It helps to have information about the food and water and the possible risks in the area that you're going to."

The Olin Health Center's Travel Clinic provides information along with consultations and vaccinations to international travelers older than 18.

The clinic relies on two computer programs to give the proper immunizations needed for each student, depending on their destination. In addition, the clinic nurses give advice on useful medication for the journey and possible health risks at the destination.

MSU sends more than 2,000 students to 57 countries every year and many travelers turn to the clinic for free services. MSU students are allowed three free Olin consultations while attending the university and can use a visit to the Travel Clinic as one of them. Immunizations cost extra.

Most programs recommend hepatitis B, meningococcal, tetanus/diphtheria and varicella (Chickenpox) vaccines.

While vaccinations aren't required by the Office of Study Abroad, students need to complete medical records and be cleared by the travel clinic before they are accepted into the program, Study Abroad Director Kathleen Fairfax said.

"The place they are going could have a medical problem that isn't a problem here," she said. "The travel clinic can give tailored information to students depending on their program. They're just very in tune with world health concerns."

Although some of the same services are offered by surrounding doctor's offices, English senior Jeremy Harder said he prefers the Travel Clinic in preparation for his study abroad program in Dublin.

"Even if you come here and get a vaccination that you could have gotten at a normal doctor's office, there's so much more information that you get here that you wouldn't get from a normal doctor," he said. "You learn about not just infectious diseases abroad but about other safety and health tips."

Harder leaves in February, but began looking into vaccinations six months ago. It's a choice O'Doherty said was wise.

"Sooner is better than later," she said.

O'Doherty advises students to come in at least a month before their travels, preferably earlier if the program is in Africa, South America, Indonesia or other Malaria-prone regions.

"We want people to travel healthy and stay healthy," she said.

For more information, visit \"www.msu.edu/~travel.