Medical advice for traveling to Palau (that I'm technically not qualified to give)

Technically I can't *really* give medical advice, since I'm not a doctor or any other kind of licensed medical practitioner.  But if I *could* give medical advice, I might say something like "before traveling to a different country, it's always good to check on the CDC website for what immunizations they recommend, and, like the CDC website says, it's a great idea to check with your doctor." I'd also probably send you a link to the CDC page on Palau: 
  
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/palau

While you're talking to your doctor, it also might be a good idea to ask for a full course of a broad-spectrum antibiotic like Cipro. The most likely use for this would be a stubborn skin infection that you get because a cut doesn't stay clean enough. I got a staph infection in my foot once because I was doing field work in flip-flops, walked through some thorns, and then walked through some muddy puddles. We'll have some basic wound management supplies handy (Dr. Rundell and I have lots of experience trying to keep cuts and scrapes clean while doing field work in the tropics, so we have some strong opinions on this), but more stubborn infections (or other bacteria-related illnesses) are still completely possible, so it's nice to have the option. There are definitely antibiotics available in Palau, but it can be convenient to have a full course handy that you've already spoken to your PCP about. 

Finally, if I were feeling really overqualified to give medical advice that I'm not qualified to give, I might say something like, "don't get anti-malarial meds. I've never heard of anyone getting malaria in Palau, and most of the meds have side effects that are severe enough it's just not worth it." Also, the CDC site for Palau doesn't say anything about Malaria. 

It's a great idea to bring some over-the-counter allergy and anti-diarrhea meds with you. There is a wide range of over-the-counter and prescription medications available in Palau, so refills might be possible, but it would be best to try to travel with a sufficient supply of all medications you might need for the duration of the course. Both allergy and diarrhea meds often seem to be necessary at the most inconvenient times, so it's a great idea to pack some of each. 

There are a few different types of biting flies in Palau (e.g., mosquitoes), and an annoying mite called "chiggers" that are common on some islands. There is also a tree in Palau that can cause a similar reaction to poison ivy, especially if you make a lot of contact with it in the rain. For all of these reasons, it can be nice to have some sort of anti-itch cream. If you've had severe reactions to poison ivy in the past (to the point where you've needed a prescription to clear it up), it might be smart to ask your doctor for a course of whatever helped the poison ivy clear up before. 

If you're allergic to bees, or if you have had systemic/anaphylactic allergic reactions to anything, please please please let us know about it, and bring an EpiPen. 

Honestly, Palau is a very safe place to work. Lyme disease scares me more than anything you're likely to get in Palau, and I've repeatedly told my own parents that in most ways it's much safer for me to do field work in Palau than in Massachusetts (where I'm from) or New York. In general, as long as you:
- stay well-hydrated (and well-electrolyte'd),
- practice good safety around the water,
- keep your cuts and scrapes clean, and
- manage your exposure to the sun,
you shouldn't have any problems, and we should all have an awesome time!