Websites which represent national and international bodies concern themselves especially with the public health issues of monitoring and controlling disease and with official news releases and policy statements. Typically, they are rich in epidemiological information and often feature access to online versions of epidemiological bulletins. They are useful resources for finding official guidelines. Some sites may appear dry and impersonal but many sites feature interesting news items and press releases. Generally official sites appear to be well funded, well maintained and kept up to date with reliable information. Sites with well-written health fact sheets can be recommended to patients. Of interest and value both to doctors and patients are sites with information on travellers' health and on seasonal infection rates.