NYC has it all! Tons of people from all over the United States –and indeed, the world—flock to this great Metropolis for food, theater, the arts— and an all-around great time. NYC is an awesome vacation destination for millions of people a year. A native New Yorker, however, will flee the city for more exotic locales. Believe it or not, NYC isn’t all that dangerous when paired against some countries in Asia, South America and Africa. In NYC, we learn to fear giant rats and gangs of street thugs, but in the above-mentioned areas of the world, they fear yellow fever and other deadly indigenous diseases. Thank goodness for the yellow fever vaccine!
There are many diseases that still occur with surprising frequency in the world. When traveling to South East Asia, parts of Central and South America, and many countries in Africa, it is especially important to protect against yellow fever. Yellow fever is a blood-borne illness that is caught from the bite of infected mosquito…or monkey. That’s right, a monkey! Needless to say, a much larger portion of infections come from the mosquito bite, as opposed to a monkey’s maw.
It is just as possible to catch yellow fever in the city, as it is in the countryside. It is a particular nasty disease that can be fatal if left untreated. Symptoms of yellow fever include a very high fever, coughing, chills, and vomiting. It is at this point that you wish you had received a vaccine before you arrived. Yellow fever is a bit tricky in that after this initial outburst of symptoms the disease will lay low and seem to disappear. This is one of the reasons that the disease is so prevalent: the infected assume they are safe, writing off their initial symptoms as the flu or a twenty-four hours virus of some sort.
If action is not taken, the virus will continue to grow and begin to attack the kidneys and liver. The liver is the body’s main organ for cleansing the blood, and if not working properly poisons build up causing a yellowing of the skin and eyes called jaundice. This is where yellow fever gets its name from. People all over the world, but particularly in the countries stated above, have been suffering from this diabolical disease for ages. These days, thankfully, a vaccine is available to protect against this nasty menace.
The vaccine for yellow fever can only be administered at a certified travel clinic. In NYC there are many of these facilities. It is recommended that all persons over the age of nine months have the vaccine if planning to be in high-risk areas. In fact, many countries will not even allow you to enter them without papaerwork from a certified travel clinic stating that you have received the yellow fever vaccine.
There are some people who should NOT receive the vaccine. These individuals include people with already comprised immune systems due to prior medical conditions such as cancer, hepatitis, or HIV/AIDS. Also on the “NOT-recommended” list are pregnant women and people who are allergic to eggs or any egg product. The vaccine is concocted in eggs, so anyone allergic to them is recommended to steer clear of the vaccine.
If from NYC and planning a trip overseas, please log onto Travel Clinic NYC website to arrange an appointment and receive a yellow fever vaccination. If you prefer to speak to a human being, simply dial 1-212-696-5900 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 1-212-696-5900 end_of_the_skype_highlighting to be connected to a knowledgeable and discreet staff member. Travel Clinic of NYC is located just two blocks from Grand Central Station and is easily accessible by bus and subway. Make the trip and get protected.
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