MADISON, Wis. -- Many diseases that once killed children in infancy have been virtually wiped out by modern medicine in the United States, but doctors want to remind parents that many diseases still live in foreign countries.

Families planning to travel internationally should consider vaccinations, according to medical experts. Doctors said it is easier to prevent a disease than to treat it, WISC-TV reported.

"It's the most effective of all defenses long-term, where after one or two doses long-term the immunization effect of measles, mumps, rubella, German measles, those are all examples of that," said Dr. William Scheckler of St. Mary's Hospital.

"Get your kids vaccinated no matter where you are," said Scheckler. "No matter where you are in the United States, you should be able to get your kids vaccinated against all the childhood diseases, that's the one thing we've got right so far in our health system."