USA

Centers for Disease Control , 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333 (tel 404/639-3311; www.cdc.gov ). Publishes outbreak warnings, suggested inoculations, precautions and other background information for travellers.

International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers ( IAMAT ), 417 Center St, Lewiston, NY 14092 (tel 716/754-4883; www.sentex.net/~iamat ). A non-profit organization supported by donations that can provide a list of English-speaking doctors in Argentina, plus climate charts and leaflets on various diseases and inoculations.

International SOS Assistance , PO Box 11568, Philadelphia, PA 19116 (tel 1-800/523-8930; www.intsos.com ). Members receive pre-trip medical referral information, as well as overseas emergency services designed to complement travel insurance coverage.

Travel Medicine , 369 Pleasant St, Northampton, MA 01060 (tel 1-800/872-8633; www.travmed.com ). Sells first-aid kits, mosquito netting, water filters and other health-related travel products.

CANADA

Canadian Society for International Health , 1 Nicholas St, Suite 1105, Ottawa, ON K1N 7B7 (tel 613/241-5785; www.csih.org ). Distributes a free pamphlet, "Health Information for Canadian Travellers", containing an extensive list of travel health centres in Canada.

International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers ( IAMAT ), 40 Regal Rd, Guelph, ON N1K 1B5 (tel 519/836-0102). A non-profit organization supported by donations that can provide a list of English-speaking doctors in Argentina, plus climate charts and leaflets on various diseases and inoculations.

BRITAIN

British Airways Travel Clinic , 156 Regent St, London W1 7RA (tel 0207/439 9584). No appointments necessary. For details of other clinics throughout the country, call 01276/685040.

Hospital for Tropical Diseases , Mortimer Market Centre, Capper St, off Tottenham Court Rd, London WC1E 6AU (tel 0207/388 8989). Travel clinic for vaccinations (including yellow fever); also stocks various first-aid items and anti-mosquito creams and devices. For advice on vaccinations and disease prevention, call 09061/337733.

Masta ( Medical Advisory Service for Travellers Abroad ) (tel 0891/224100; www.masta.org ). Efficient, automated service (calls charged at 60p a minute), offering tailor-made written health information on your destination by return of post. Be sure to speak clearly though, or you'll end up with information for Panama instead of Paraguay.

IRELAND

Travel Medicine Services , PO Box 254, 16 College St, Belfast 1 (tel 01232/315 220). Offers medical advice before you take your trip and medical help afterwards in the event of a tropical disease.

Tropical Medical Bureau , Grafton St Medical Centre, 34 Grafton St, Dublin 2 (tel 01/671 9200); Dun Laoghaire Medical Centre, 5 Northumberland Ave, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin (tel 01/280 4996, fax 280 5603; email; www.iol.ie/-tmb/ ). Offers medical advice before you make your trip and medical help afterwards in the event of a tropical disease.

AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND

www.tmvc.com.au has a comprehensive list of Travellers Medical and Vaccination Centres throughout Australia, New Zealand and Southeast Asia, plus general information on travel health. Addresses and telephone numbers for key centres are:

Adelaide 27-29 Gilbert Place (tel 08/8212 7522).

Auckland 1/170 Queen St (tel 09/373 3531).

Brisbane 6/247 Adelaide St, Brisbane (tel 07/3221 9066).

Canberra Mezzanine Level, City Walk Arcade, 2 Mort St (tel 02/6257 7156).

Christchurch 147 Armagh St (tel 03/379 4000).

Darwin 5 Westralia St (tel 08/8981 2907).

Hobart 270 Sandy Bay Rd, Sandy Bay (tel 03/6223 7577).

Melbourne 2/393 Little Bourke St (tel 03/9602 5788).

Perth 5 Mill St (tel 08/9321 1977), plus branch in Fremantle.

Sydney 7/428 George St (tel 02/9221 7133), plus branches in Chatswood and Paramatta.

Wellington Shop 15, Grand Arcade, Willis St (tel 04/473 0991).