South African clinics have been advising travelers to Zambia to get yellow fever travel vaccinations, in spite of the fact that Zambia is not on the official government list of destinations that require yellow fever vaccines.

This has inadvertently created a nationwide yellow fever vaccine shortage in South Africa, with vaccine producer Sanofi-Aventis being caught off-guard by the surge in demand. The company has been racing to catch up and keep clinics in the country supplied. However, the new orders are not expected to arrive in South Africa until August 12. According to the company, the typical number of vaccines in South Africa each month is in the range of 6,000 to 7,000 shots, but last month that demand tripled. The shortage is forcing some travelers to postpone their trips, as many airlines will not carry passengers to high risk areas without proof of vaccination.

When visiting exotic travel destinations it's wise to get the proper travel vaccines, but the process can be confusing. The best place to start the effort of finding out which vaccinations you need is by consulting with your doctor. Vaccines are not a one-size-fits-all proposition, and your doctor is probably the one most qualified to assess your individual risks.

In general, as your travel becomes more remote your risk of infection increases. Adventure travelers who want to go off the beaten path may find themselves in real danger if they are not vaccinated. It pays to do your homework and learn what the most prevalent diseases in your destination are and how they are spread. You should also find out how each type of vaccine works. For example, hepatitis A and typhoid are both spread through food and water, so areas with low sanitation and bad water supplies carry a high possibility of contracting these diseases.

When we consider our health when traveling abroad, we are mostly concerned with vaccinations and bringing along common medications that are prescribed or that we may need. However, very few consider bringing more than a toothbrush when they consider their dental hygiene during travel.

Unfortunately, dental care facilities are generally much worse than medical facilities in many countries, and in some, may even be impossible to find. Trying to find Argentine dentists will be much more difficult than finding Dallas dentists. In the U.S., we are incredibly particularly about our oral hygiene, and go to measures to care for our mouths that most countries wouldn't even consider which is why finding adequate dental care while traveling can often be difficult.

Knocking out a tooth or experiencing severe tooth pain can be just as likely to occur on a vacation as a broken arm or severe fever can. Prior to travel, you should always look to find adequate medical facilities around you, and you should do the same for dental facilities. You don't want to wind up with a tooth that is gone forever, or having to miss out on sightseeing because of a cavity that needs immediate attention. Make sure that you are adequately prepared for a dental emergency just as you would prepare for a medical emergency.

Travelers should also note that vacationing doesn't mean that they should throw their good oral hygiene habits aside for a week or two either ñ especially if they are traveling for longer. There are travel sizes of toothpaste and mouth wash available to provide greater portability, and travelers should be sure to pack a toothbrush, a spare toothbrush, mouth wash, and floss. Mouthwash may seem like a cumbersome item to tote along, but it can be incredibly beneficial when you aren't able to brush your teeth in an appropriate place. An extra toothbrush can also be a life saver, especially when traveling abroad, in the chance that you leave yours in a hotel. Instead of having to find a local pharmacy or pay the hotel $6 to get a new one, you can simply pop out your spare without any worries.

Although vacation is generally reserved as a time to throw caution to the wind and to relax and indulge, travelers should still be aware of their diet and try to maintain a relatively healthy routine in order to stay feeling their best during and after vacation. No one want to start dragging only a few days in to their vacation, and making sure to properly hydrate, eat relatively healthy meals, and properly care for yourself is a great way to keep yourself feeling great.