For those who frequently travel, taking a trek on your own offers a new level of foreign freedom.

This eliminates all discussions for where to eat, what sights to see and how to spend down time.

But, what you gain in freedom, you may give up in feeling safe during that solo international trip.

The stories are unfortunately far too common. Whether it’s in the form of assault, verbal abuse or some other violent act. There are many reports of independent travelers facing dangers around the world.

This is not to say that people should avoid traveling. Only that to ensure a safer trip, you might want to take some extra precautions.

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Zika has been infecting people for centuries and was first recognized in Uganda, nearly 70 years ago.

Despite its long history with humanity, we’ve seen the most progress for a vaccine over the past year.

This is due to a “gold rush” by pharmaceutical companies to find immunization. This race for a Zika solution started with an offer from the U.S. government to shift money to companies for vaccine research. Many other worldwide governments followed suit, offering financial programs to companies researching a Zika vaccine.

Vaccines usually take time to develop. Between research, development and trials, the process can take years and even decades.

Somewhat surprisingly though, Zika is proving ideal for vaccine research.

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Pneumonia isn’t just the cold.

You aren’t more likely to catch the virus if you go outside during the winter without a coat.

People 65 years or older aren’t the only ones who can catch pneumonia.

The myths about pneumonia have been debunked, but one fact is important. Pneumonia sends about one million Americans to the hospital and 50,000 deaths every year. Here’s what you do need to know about the deadly virus:

What is pneumonia?

A bacteria gets into the lungs, causing the air sacs to fill with pus and get inflamed. The body then struggles to absorb and exchange oxygen.

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The year isn’t over yet, but worldwide explorers already decided for the rest of us.

There were some places to avoid and some that were must-sees in 2016.

Those popular destinations offered a variety of reasons to visit.

Unbeatable beaches surrounding tight-knit communities. Bustling metropolitan areas filled with businesspeople and locals alike. Maybe even some ancient ruins that can only be reached from a world-renowned hiking trail.

Whether it was for a business trip or some rest and relaxation, here were the five best travel destinations of 2016:

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