Word(s) to the Wise

I was propping myself up on the exam table at our University Health Services (UHS) when I noticed a troubling poster staring back at me. It read:

"Foreign travel is dazzling. Foreign disease is not. Travel Wise. Immunize here. Be safe there."

Do you see the problem there? Words are powerful, so let me break this down:

"Foreign travel is dazzling. Foreign disease is not." 

What exactly is "foreign disease"? Disease that can only exist in places outside of the USA? Disease that is unique to foreigners? "Foreign disease" separates non-Americans in a derogatory way. No disease is exclusively "owned" by foreigners. More importantly, is the implication here that "USA diseases" (whatever that may mean) are dazzling? No disease is dazzling.

"Immunize here. Be safe there." 

This suggests that immunization is only necessary when leaving America (which is a dangerous message to send), and secondly categorizes the rest of the world as a more dangerous place (when in truth there are several countries that outperform the USA in health indicators). Safety is not only a concern when leaving the USA. I can turn to any American news channel right now and give you 10-20 reasons why this is incorrect. Individuals should immunize based on the needs of the country they travel to because this may vary from the vaccination requirements for the USA; however there are immunization and safety concerns in any country--even if to varying degrees and types.

Now I'm all about constructive criticism so I've taken the liberty to draft a less offensive version:

"[all] Travel can be dazzling. Diseases never are. Travel Wise. Be safe and immunize wherever you are. "

Voila, UHS. There you have it. Now please take that thing down.


Update: I emailed my concerns to the Medical Director at the time and UHS has since taken the poster down. They were also extremely respectful in their response to my request.