About Us: International Health and Travel

On this page:
Mission
Our work
Emerging health issues
Traveler's health

Mission

The International Health Program supports the health of Minnesotans affected by facets of globalization, including international travel, disease transmission, and migration. We ensure the equitable wellbeing of Minnesota’s diverse communities through community partnership, health education, and collaboration with local public health agencies and health care systems. 

The International Health Team is committed to providing: 

• Culturally competent and tailored community engagement and outreach.
• Data-driven collaboration with local, state, and national community partners.
• Intentional co-creation and partnerships with communities most impacted by global infectious diseases.
• Development of robust guidance and resources for partners in international health. 

Our work

The United States sees tens of millions of international visitors each year while almost three-quarters of Americans report having traveled to at least one other country in their lifetime. In an ever-increasing global world, there is not just the transfer of ideas, goods, and resources, but also the movement of people and diseases as well.

Since its beginnings, international health organizations have focused on addressing infectious diseases and preventing their spread across international boundaries. In recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks of diseases like Ebola and mpox have highlighted the need for robust international health policies and procedures. 

Here at the Minnesota Department of Health our program focuses on emerging health issues and traveler’s health. We recognize that global health problems are a concern for all countries around the world and disease prevention requires collaboration and cooperation between various entities. Our program serves all Minnesotans with a particular focus on communities that may experience additional challenges in obtaining medical care or health education resources, whether due to obstacles such as physical distance from resources, language, or financial barriers. 

Our team is intentional about partnering with entities that directly serve these communities, including community-based organization, institutes of higher education, state agencies, health clinics, and embassies and consulates. International Health staff help support other colleagues and partners in enhancing the cultural and linguistic relevance of their work and provide data-driven, tailored resources. We promote and improve the health of all Minnesotans through research, information gathering, and engagement.
 

Emerging health issues

Our International Health team looks towards the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for guidance and support in addressing infectious disease outbreaks. Our response work is rooted in a community and data framework. During an active outbreak response, our team collaborates with staff across the Infectious Disease, Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Division to assess the situation, identify areas of need and respond accordingly with community outreach and engagement. We engage diverse stakeholders in responding to urgent concerns and partner with them to develop community-driven, culturally and linguistically relevant interventions.

Some examples of past responses from our team include:

• Tuberculosis outbreak response
• Ebola outbreak response
• COVID-19 pandemic response

Smaller additional responses include addressing community needs related to H1N1 cases, Hmong markets and ayurvedic medicine purchases, measles, and bed bug concerns. 

Traveler’s health

Minnesota is home to just over 5.7 million people, with many of these individuals traveling internationally each year. The Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport sees almost a half million travelers annually, with numbers increasing yearly. 

We convene internal and external partners to make sure all Minnesotans have access to the travelers’ health materials, resources, and care they need.

For more information, visit our international travel pages:

• Guidance for Travelers
• Materials and Resources
• For Health Professionals