An urban Northeastern United States alligator bite.

Individuals who live and work in the Southeastern coastal range of the 3 US crocodilian carnivores, American alligators, American crocodiles, and caiman, understand the risks of reptile-human encounters. Individuals who live in other parts of the country maybe exposed through contact with exotic pets at private homes, small menageries, or petting zoos or from escaped or abandoned animals. During these encounters, individuals may be severely injured.

Immunization in travel medicine.

The specialty of travel medicine encompasses a broad and dynamic practice. A thorough pretravel consultation provides an individual with a comprehensive, evidence-based, contextual discussion of the risk profile for specific itinerary-based, travel-related illness and injury, allowing the traveler to use this information in conjunction with his or her personal health belief model, risk tolerance, and experience to decide on an informed management plan. This article focuses on the pretravel consultation with emphasis on the contribution of immunization to traveler's health.