New England Medical Center;

Background: Large numbers of United States residents travel each year to countries where malaria, hepatitis A, hepati-tis B and other vaccine-preventable diseases are prevalent. However, relatively little is known about how United States travelers perceive risks associated with travel or how they prepare for their international voyages. This airport survey was therefore performed to determine the travel health knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of United States travelers. Methods: Questionnaires were administered to international travelers, aged 18 years or more, departing from the John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York who were going to destinations that were high risk for malaria or hepatitis A. Results: Overall, 404 questionnaires were completed, including 203 focused on malaria and 201 on vaccine-preventable diseases. Latin America and Asia were the most common destinations. Only 36 % of travelers sought travel health advice, despite the fact that more than half prepared their trip at least a month in advance. Only 17 % of travelers considered them-selves at high risk for hepatitis A. Although the majority of travelers (73%) to a high-risk malaria-endemic region perceived malaria as a high health risk, only 46 % of them were carrying antimalarial medications. Additionally, although the major