Health and Immunization Information for Travelers to India

With a cultural history over 4,500 years old and the world’s second largest population, it’s no wonder that India has become an increasingly popular destination attracting travelers for both business and pleasure.  From the Taj Mahal to the Himalayas, there is much to see, do and learn.  But before you go, there are important health-protecting preparations to be made; travelers need travel immunization to India, procure prescriptions, and educate themselves about potential health risks.

With regard to vaccinations, the Center for Disease Control recommends that travelers to India receive the immunizations against hepatitis A and B and Typhoid.  Those travelers who expect to spend time in rural areas are also advised to get vaccinated against Japanese encephalitis and rabies.  Most people in the United States receive a measles or MMR vaccination as children, and while measles is no longer an active disease in the States, it is still prevalent in India and many other countries, so talk to your doctor about whether you’re up to date on this and all other routine vaccines; some recent cases of polio have been reported in India as well.  It is recommended that travelers are immunized four to six weeks before they leave, so plan ahead!

But essential travel health information isn’t just limited to vaccinations.  Travelers visiting nearly all areas of India, including urban areas like Delhi and Bombay, could be exposed to malaria, and so are advised to undergo an antimalarial prescription drug regimen before and during their time in India; note that Chloroquine is not effective against the strains of malaria present in India and some other South Asian countries, and should therefore not be used as an antimalarial treatment.  Again, most antimalarial drugs need to travel through the bloodstream for several weeks before they take effect, so visit your travel health provider early.  Travelers should talk with their physicians about their specific travel itinerary.It is important for travelers to purchase the antimalarial drugs they will need for their time away while they are still in the United States, as some drugs produced outside the US do not meet FDA standards and have adverse side-effects, contain contaminants, or are altogether ineffective.  The Center for Disease Control advises travelers against using risky antimalarial drugs, particularly Halfan, unless they have already contracted malaria and has no other available options.

The same rules apply for any other prescription medicines you may take on a daily basis; plan to bring enough for your entire trip, as you may not be able to refill your medication abroad.  It is also a good idea to pack your preferred over-the-counter drugs, such as anti-nausea, anti-inflammatory, allergy medication, sunscreen and insect repellent, since availability will vary, particularly in rural areas.

Other diseases widespread in India for which there are no vaccines available include dengue and avian flu.  The CDC recommends preventative measures (insect repellent and avoiding contact with local bird life, respectively) as the means of protecting oneself from these diseases.  The CDC also advises travelers to the South Asian region to be careful about their food and water intake to avoid food poisoning, and, if they do plan to visit those majestic Himalayas, to pay attention to signs of altitude sickness.  Symptoms include insomnia, nausea, headaches, fatigue, loss of appetite and confusion, and should be taken seriously; untreated altitude illness can be fatal.

As you can see, there’s a lot to think about when planning a trip, so it’s important to visit a certified travel health provider for treatment and advice before you go. Whether you need travel immunization to India or any other far-off destination, if you’re New York based check out the Travel Clinic of New York. At the Travel clinic NYC doctors specialize in travel consultations, vaccinations and prescription medications for travel, and offer flexible hours and treatments tailored to fit your specific itinerary.

Five types of malaria prophylaxis vaccination drugs available for travel protection

Malaria has been extinct in the United States since the early 1950s. Thanks to intense government interventions in the early 20^th century, contracting malaria within the U.S. is now almost impossible.

What is not impossible, however, is catching the sickness in another country and carrying it back into the country. Every year, about 1,500 United States travelers bring malaria home with them.

If you know the country you are traveling experiences malaria outbreaks, you must seek the proper malaria prophylaxis, or, medicines that prevent malaria. Nobody living in the United States should visit unindustrialized nations or rural parts of the world without looking into getting a travel vaccination. Even if you’re originally from the country you plan on visiting, you are not immune to its local diseases. People who don’t take preventative measures to protect their health while abroad are putting their bodies at risk for infection.

For malaria, there are five types of malaria medicine available for travelers, each with different benefits and issues:

Doxycycline
This inexpensive medicine can be taken a day before taking off, which can be very convenient for travelers who do not visit a travel clinic at least two weeks before leaving. But this cheaper brand has common side effects such as stomach ache and skin sensitively. It may also trigger yeast infections in women who are prone to them.

Atovaquone/Proguanil (Malarone)
This drug can also be conveniently taken only one to two days before landing in your destination country, but it tends to be more expensive. However, unlike its cheaper counterpart, Doxycycline, Malarone affords little to no side effects.

Primaquine
This is the final daily medicine available that can also be taken one to days before leaving. It’s different in that it is specifically designed for the P. vivax species of malaria. If the area you plan on traveling to carries this species of malaria, then Primaquine is right for you.

Chloroquine
If you’re taking a long trip somewhere, this pill is convenient because it is only taken weekly. It is also safe for pregnant women.

Mefloquine (Lariam)
Just like Chloroquine, this drug is taken weekly and is safe for pregnant women. Also similar to Chloroquine, travelers need to start taking Lariam two weeks before leaving the country.

These drugs cannot be taken by everybody and are not efficient everywhere. People taking other medications or that have certain health problems need to speak with a physician about possible complications. There are also parts of the world resistant to certain types of malaria medication. For example, Chloroquine will not protect travelers going to Brazil, Afghanistan and many other countries.

Before you leave the country, meet with a travel physician that will help you decide which malaria prophylaxis is right for you. For medication that yields the fewest side effects, plan on starting the medicine two weeks before taking off. You may also need another type of travel vaccination for diseases such as typhoid, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, which are common in many parts of the world.

Meet with Dr. Slava Fuzayloff, a travel clinic NYC physician located at 274 Madison Avenue, for a complete evaluation. To learn more about him and his services, you can visit travel vaccination. Don’t let malaria end up as a bad souvenir you bring home with you; get the proper preventive medicine.

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: Plan Your Next Vacation at a Travel Clinic

Have you ever traveled flown? Sure enough, most of us know what it’s like to travel by car, train, or bus, but not everyone has used a plane.

Airplanes, for the most part, are preferred only for far travel, whether nationally orabroad. As we board, we’re hopeful for that vacation soon to come or the next adventure about to begin, but what we fail to realize oftentimes is that being on the plane is a break itself.

Buildings become toy blocks, parks look like small patches of farmland, and the people disappear from view in a few seconds. Aside from the initial air sickness, the rest of the flight is generally smooth, and all you mostly see are the cotton candy soft clouds and an endless baby blue hued sky.

            Too quiet for you? Whether fortunately or unfortunately, you can always run into some turbulence while in the air. With lights flashing seatbelts on, frightened crew gripping the railings, and a suspenseful heightened sense of fear, you’ll have that adrenaline pumping before you even land.

            That and along with the view, you get complimentary food and drink (doesn’t always happen in the hotel). Smiling stewards and stewardesses wish you well, all the while you can recline back in your seat, watch the movie playing, or listen to music. Nowadays, you can even bring the laptop with you for internet access, or then again, just sleep. And this is all before the actual vacation starts. (Gasp!)

            Before you book your next travel flight though, make sure that if you’re flying internationally, you get your travel vaccines early. Travel clinics will make sure you’re ready to enjoy the trip as well as the plane ride.

            Start today: our travel clinic is located at 274 Madison Ave, Suite 304, New York, NY.  For more information, check out travel clinic NYC.  Don’t worry, you’ll be on the flight before you know it.  

Travel To Cambodia To Experience Breathtaking Angkor Wat The Magical Temple Complex & Prudent Protection Via Inoculation

For the non-denominational spiritually-minded amongst us, nowhere on Earth conjures such mystical feelings as the famed temple complex at Angkor Wat, Cambodia. A simple gaze at its spectacular geometrical towers against the bright sun-streaked sky (or even better: under the yellow moonlight of a star-studded evening) and one feels closer to whatever deity he or she currently holds closest to their heart. There is a mysterious aire to this destination, as if the prayers and esoteric beliefs of millions of ancient devotees are somehow synergized directly into its strange and secretive stone carvings. However, in this era of non-arcane points of view and the almost-complete failure of mystery schools for the knowledge of medical schools, a visit to a travel vaccination clinic may offer better protection than a talisman or amulet of your particular divination when visiting this complex complex.

This priceless and shining jewel of Cambodia is the largest Hindu temple in the world, dwarfing others by great magnitude. Its iconic shape and structure adorns the national flag and is known worldwide for its pilgrims. In fact, this twelfth century labyrinthine religious place is still a prime destination for pilgrims of not only the Hindu faith—but for millions of others who are absorbed by its aesthetic beauty, respect for its culture, and veiled-but-profound sculptures of deities, demigods and demons. Cambodia is a region of the world still infused with magic. Unfortunately, their reliance on this mystical way of life may have contributed to its high infant mortality rate, almost nonexistent industrialization, and its high ranking as a source of infectious disease. For anyone planning on traveling to this spiritual paradise it is highly recommended that they visit a travel vaccinations clinic four-to-six weeks before the beginning of their trip to help protect against contracting one or more of Cambodia’s dangerous diseases.

                                                                       

According to all reigning disease specialists—including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—the sheer number of infectious diseases still continuing to be contracted in Cambodia compiled can create quite a frightening list. Things often look worse on paper than they do in the real world, so remember that if Cambodia is calling for business or pleasure, for religious reasons or any other, a simple vaccination or two can protect you against becoming infected with any or all of its insidious sicknesses.

The list of diseases virulent in Cambodia that a vaccination may be recommended for at a travel clinic of your choosing include:

Hepatitis A

This is a viral disease that interferes with the liver’s functioning and is spread through ingestion of food or water contaminated with fecal matter.

Hepatitis E

A water-borne viral disease that also damages the functioning of the liver.

Typhoid fever

A bacterial disease spread through contact with food and/or water contaminated by sewage or fecal matter.

Malaria

A worldwide killer, Malaria is caused by the parasitic protozoa Plasmodium which is transmitted to humans through the bite of the female mosquito. The interruption of blood supply to the brain can cause damage to vital organs and death.

Dengue fever

A mosquito-borne (Aedes aegypti) viral disease associated more with urban living than jungle and that begins with a sudden fever and head pain.  Death occurs in approximately five percent of cases.

Japanese Encephalitis

A mosquito-borne (Culex tritaeniorhynchus) viral disease associated with rural areas in throughout all of Asia. Can cause paralysis and/or coma and death rates of this insidious disease can be as high as thirty percent of those acutely infected.

If travel to the wondrous Angkor Wat, Cambodia is in your future, please get to a licensed travel clinic for an in-depth consultation with a board-certified doctor regarding what vaccination (or vaccinations) would be best for you. This decision can be best made by a medical professional who will closely peruse your itinerary in order to pin point the most dangerous diseases that may be in your vicinity.  This is calculated through season, age, general health of the traveler, etc. and should only be made by a certified travel doctor.

If you are in NYC, please log onto Cambodia vaccination for more information on the city’s premiere travel clinic of its type. Call 1-212-696-5900 to arrange an appointment. They are discreet, affordable, friendly and conveniently located just blocks from Grand Central Station. Enjoy your trip.

Historical Lessons: Travel Clinic Before Traveling

The world has seen disease since the beginning of time. The earliest known epidemics was observed in Egypt 1650 BC and lasted about a century. One of the most famous pandemic in modern times leads back to the 2009 swine flu scare. No matter the time or place, lives were lost and humanity suffered.

The Black Death, smallpox, typhus, measles, yellow fever, dengue fever, cholera, influenza, trypanosomiasis, HIV/AIDS, SARS, Ebola, polio, malaria, tuberculosis, Hepatitis B, Swine & Bird Flu. History has claimed millions from widespread infections. Swollen lymph nodes, rampage of the body using the host’s immune system, traumatizing rashes, raised fluid filled blisters, delirium, muscle pain, kopik spots, the list of symptoms goes onward. Sound very pleasant?

Luckily, with the help from vaccinations, smallpox was officially declared eradicated from human society in 1979. With the aid of other immunizations either from birth or routinely implemented other diseases like typhus and measles are rare. Nonetheless, they won’t work unless you actually get the shot.

So why take the risk? We live in a century of tablets, smartphones, and medicine for just about everything. And while the United States of America face few life threatening epidemics, not every country is as fortunate.

If you’re heading internationally for your next vacation, consider hitting up a travel clinic beforehand. Make sure that you have your routine vaccinations updated and you take the necessary shots before heading to a disease-infested country. Though smallpox is gone, others like yellow fever and AIDS are still prevalent. If anything, learn from history and get immunized!

            Want to find a travel clinic? We have one located at 274 Madison Ave, Suite 304, New York, NY if you’re interested. For more information, head over to travel clinic. 

The ABCs of Travel Vaccination

Getting ready for a big trip can be busy and confusing, especially if you’re going somewhere new or far away.  Luckily getting the right vaccinations is as easy as ABC.  In fact, you only need to remember one letter to keep all your necessary vaccinations straight: the letter R.

The Center for Disease Control (CDC) organizes vaccines related to travel into three categories: Routine, Required, and Recommended. Keeping informed and up-to-date on the information for each category will make the travel vaccination process as quick and painless as possible as getting a shot can be!

Routine: Chances are if you grew up in the United States you received most or all of the listed routine travel vaccines, including hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus shot, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella.  Depending on your age, you may’ve also been vaccinated against tuberculosis, rotavirus, meningitis or varicella.  While all fifty states have specific requirements for childhood vaccinations to be obtained before entering and while attending public school, there aren’t any federal laws, so check in with your physician.  Additionally, some shots require boosters after a certain amount of time; a tetanus shot, for example, should be re-administered every ten years in adults.  Some diseases that are no longer prevalent in the United States still have a presence in other countries, so it’s important to keep your routine vaccinations current.

Recommended: The Center for Disease Control’s list of recommended vaccines varies largely on a country-to-country basis, so check their website and be sure to share your itinerary with your travel health provider.  The CDC’s website has a comprehensive A to Z country listing featuring important travel information for every destination, including immunization and malaria medication recommendations, and up to the minute health bulletins, a valuable tool for any traveler.  Some vaccines that are commonly recommended for travelers, but remain outside the realm of the routine American immunizations are the vaccinations against typhoid and Japanese encephalitis.  Additional immunizations, such as a rabies vaccine, may be required if you’re working with livestock or plan to spend a lot of time in rural areas, so share your activity plans with your doctor as well. 

Additional Seasonal and Patient Health-Based Recommendations: Because airports and planes are overcrowded and have poor air circulation, you may consider getting the influenza vaccine, particularly if you’re travelling during flu season.  For those with asthma or compromised immune systems, an up-to-date flu shot is recommended year-round. Depending on your age and preexisting health conditions, your travel health provider may also include the pneumonia and shingles vaccines on the list of recommendations.

Required: The only vaccine currently required by international regulations is the yellow fever vaccine, mandatory for entry into certain African and South American countries.  Travelers entering these countries will be asked to produce a certificate verifying their receipt of the vaccine upon their entry into the country.  The immunization against viral meningitis is also required for entry into Saudi Arabia during the yearly period of the hajj pilgrimage.

It is recommended that you receive your vaccinations four to six weeks before you travel; this will give the vaccines time to spread through your body and take effect, so make an appointment with your travel health provider as soon as possible!

If you’re based in New York, you can visit the Travel Clinic of New York, where certified travel health providers offer competitive rates, evening and weekend office hours, travel medicine and immunizations (including yellow fever vaccination), and personalized consultations to teach you the ABCs of travel clinic and health on the go!

ABCs of Typhoid Immunization

When you’re visiting a foreign country, trying new and exotic local food can be one of the most exciting parts of your trip. Whether you’re taste-testing Cambodian bay chhar rice or Colombian sanocho soup, learning about new flavors and customs is an experience most travelers look forward to.  But in some developing countries, ingesting local food or water can put your health (and your vacation) at risk by putting you in contact with foodborne diseases like typhoid.  Don’t worry though, protecting yourself from this nasty illness is as easy as ABC!

Typhoid, also known as typhoid fever, is a bacterial infection transmitted by food or water containing the bacterium salmonella typhi. Though the names are similar, typhoid is not the same as typhus, which is caused by different bacteria. Typhoid symptoms are generally divided into four stages, which, if left untreated, each last about a week. In the first week, the patient experience fever, headache and cough, with possible stomach pain and bloody nose. In the second week, the patient has a higher fever, stomach pain, abnormal bowel movements and delirium. In the third week a patient may experience more delirium and dehydration, as well as possible intestinal hemorrhage or perforation, both serious conditions that can be deadly.  However, typhoid is most often not fatal, so if these complications do not occur, the patient’s fever usually reduces in the final week as he or she begins to heal.  After recovery, a small percentage of patients become asymptomatic carriers who no longer experience symptoms themselves, but can still infect others.

If you’re about to go on a big trip outside the States and want to avoid a painful month-long illness, you should find out if typhoid is a concern in your destination country.  The Center for Disease Control recommends the typhoid vaccine for travelers to most south Asian and African, as well as some South American countries, and is especially important for those travelers visiting rural areas with substandard water treatment protocols. You can visit the CDC’s website and talk to your primary care doctor to find out if the typhoid vaccine is necessary for your itinerary.

The typhoid vaccine can be given orally or via injection. The oral dose is a live, weakened version of the disease given in four doses, and the injected dose is the inactive version of the disease, given as a single shot.  Depending on your own health and any previous medical conditions, you should decide with your doctor which version of the vaccine is better for you.  One main difference is that the injected travel vaccination needs to be administered two weeks before travel and should be re-administered every two years, whereas the oral dose should be given one week before travel and lasts for five years.

Neither the oral nor the injected version of the disease is one-hundred percent effective, though, so it’s still important to watch what you eat and drink while you are away from home. Typhoid is mainly a problem when feces or urine comes in contact with food or drinking water, so frequent hand washing and cleanly food preparation is a key component of keeping typhoid and other food-related diseases out of your system.

So whether it’s the African savannah or the Andes Mountains, it’s important to visit a travel health provider before you go, to get vaccinated against typhoid and other infectious diseases prevalent abroad. If you’re based in or around New York City, a visit to the travel doctor NYC is a convenient and affordable way to get yourself up-to-date on your travel immunizations and information. At Travel Clinic NYC, a doctor specializing in travel medicine will consult with you one on one, and give you the ABCs of typhoid immunization and other information important to your health and safety abroad. You can even make a same-day appointment online at Typhoid immunization in NYC.

Who needs a travel immunization? If you’re visiting Brazil, you do! Stop by a travel clinic to learn more.

Different countries present different health risks that travelers need to prepare for. People going to Southeast Asia, for example, are at risk for diseases and illnesses that one won’t find in say, North Africa. But even within one country you’ll find that health risks can vary from region to region, and even from city to city. If you’re planning a trip to Brazil, the kind of Brazil travel immunization you’ll need will depend on what cities you plan on spending most of your time in. For clarity, make an appointment with a doctor at a travel clinic that specializes in travel medicine.

No matter where you’re traveling, everyone should have their essential vaccinations up to date. These are the standard immunizations for vaccine-preventable diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid, and the routine ones most of us get as children (MMR, DPT, polio, etc.). If you haven’t been vaccinated for any of these in a while, your travel doctor may recommend you get your second round before traveling to Brazil.

The other two vaccinations that the CDC recommends travelers to Brazil get are yellow fever and malaria. But whether you need yellow fever vaccination depends entirely on what cities you plan on visiting.

For yellow fever, the only areas where a vaccination is not recommended are a few coastal cities: San Paulo, Recife, Fortaleza, Salvador, and, everyone’s favorite, Rio de Janeiro. Rio is by far Brazil’s biggest tourist attraction, with almost three million tourists a year. So chances are if you’re reading this you’re probably planning on spending most of your time in this beach friendly city. If this is true, then you do NOT have to worry about getting yellow fever!

You also don’t have to worry about malaria! Like yellow fever, malaria is transmitted through mosquitos, which tend to hang out in the more tropical parts of the country. Thus if you stick to those coastal cities you may only have to get the standard vaccinations listed above.

However, if you’re looking forward to venturing into the more tropical parts of Brazil, then you need to visit a travel clinic for a complete evaluation for what immunizations you will need. To protect yourself from yellow fever, your doctor will recommend you getting the yellow fever vaccination. For malaria, there are antimalarial drugs such as atovaquone-proguanil, doxycycline, or mefloquine that are suited for Brazil. The CDC strongly warns travelers against the chloroquine malaria drug, stating that it is not effective in protecting one against malaria in Brazil. Be sure to ask your doctor what kind of malaria medication he or she plans on prescribing. You may not be able to pronounce it, but you can sure run it through the CDC’s website to learn more about its side effects and efficiency in Brazil.

Get your Brazil travel immunization in NYC and your other travel medicines at the travel clinic located in New York City, at 274 Madison Avenue between 39^th and 40^th streets. It’s certified to administer the yellow fever vaccination, meaning if you need it you won’t have to go to a second location for it. Just come in and meet with their awesome travel doctor; you’ll leave with everything you need. Visit travel clinic to make an appointment.

Meet with a travel doctor to insure you get exactly what you need for exactly where you’re going. Then enjoy your stay in beautiful Brazil.

Travel to Brazil—South America’s Breathtaking Wonderland Top Tourist Attractions and Shot Information

Travel is one of the most rewarding experiences in life. Getting aboard that jet and stepping into another culture for a week or two is sort of like having your own personal time machine. Each area on Earth has its own unique flavor. From gentle and calm to exciting and dangerous you’ll find someplace that makes you buzz. Like all good experiences travel comes with some risks, the most dangerous of which can be taken care of via a quick and affordable shot. One of the most popular areas in the world for those who enjoy travel is South America—Brazil in particular.

Why travel to Brazil? Why, Brazil has it all! From sumptuous booty-licious beaches where half-naked Goddesses romp around to ancient Catholic churches where the faithful have been flocking for hundreds of years. Anyone who has traveled to this part of the world will tell you how friendly the people are and how delicious their freshly prepared meals of fish and game are. Brazil has thousands of miles of lush tropical rain forests to explore as well as cosmopolitan cities to shop to you drop. It is in the wilder areas where a shot begins to make more sense.

Brazil is a gigantic country and takes up almost half of its continent, making it the fifth largest country in the entire world! This rich hodge-podge of a nation boasts over 4,600 miles of coastline, quaint colonial towns, and dense over-grown tropical islands. Some of the most popular tourist attractions of Brazil are huge cascading waterfalls, abundant wildlife, and pristine untouched Amazon wilderness. In fact, Brazil still has several tribes living within its forests that are completely self-sufficient and cut off from civilization as we know it. Remember to visit a certified travel clinic before your trip to make sure you are administered the correct shot so that you will be provided the best protection against illness possible.

While in Brazil (protected via shot, of course) make sure you travel the country to see its many different aspects. One of the most popular attractions is the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Located at the top of Corcavado mountain inside the sprawling city of Rio de Janeiro. This 130 foot tall statue of Jesus Christ has become an icon of the country. On a Sunday (of all days!) in February of 2008, lightening struck the statue damaging its head, eyebrows and fingers. The Brazilian government soon repaired the damage and today the statue stands as a beacon to the faithful just as it has since it construction began in 1922.

For many a world traveler, another high point of Brazil is Rio’s Carnival. This annual event is known for its jubilance and raw sensuality. (So much so that the shot you may need to visit the Carnival will be for a STD instead of protection against a tropical mosquito-borne illness!) Beginning way back in 1773, this celebration of Roman Catholicism’s festival of Lent has become a highly anticipated country-wide party including floats, dancers, acrobats, costumed performers of every ilk, and loud, booming music. Travel to Brazil during Carnival for a rowdy never-to-be-forgotten once-in-a-lifetime event!

Carnival in Brazil is not for everyone. Many travelers prefer a different kind of vacation; one where the majestic landscape is center stage instead of scantily clad belly dancers. It is in these beautiful wild areas of Brazil that diseases like yellow fever, malaria, hepatitis A and typhoidare of much greater concern than they are in the cities. Visit a friendly neighborhood travel clinic in your neck of the woods where they will be happy to offer advice on and administer any shot that may be deemed appropriate.

If you happen to live in the New York City area and are planning a trip get Brazil Travel Shots NYC in the near future, you may want to log onto travel clinic NYC for more information on remaining as healthy as possible during your trip. Located a convenient two blocks from Grand Central Station, this certified travel clinic is a discreet, affordable and respected medical facility. Appointments are easy to arrange due to their extended weekday and weekend hours. Simply dial 1-212-696-5900 to speak to a caring staff member today. Stay safe, stay healthy, stay vaccinated!

Three Reasons to get a Yellow Fever shot.

Headed on a trip, but unsure what vaccinations you should get before you go?  All the recommendations and requirements can be confusing at first, but checking the listings on the Center for Disease Control and scheduling a consult with a travel health doctor at a specialized travel clinic are good places to start.  If you are headed to a tropical or subtropical region of South America or Africa, you may be exposed to yellow fever, a virus spread by contact with some species of primates as well as the bite of female mosquitos. Yellow fever can be dangerous, so if you’re traveling to an area where the disease is prevalent, here are three good reasons to visit a travel doctor.

1. Yellow fever is an incurable, potentially fatal disease. Symptoms of the virus initially include fever, nausea and general body pain, which wane after several days.  Some patients then enter a toxic phase in which liver damage occurs, and may lead to death. Jaundice, the yellow hue many patients acquire in the advanced stages of liver failure is the reason for “yellow” in the name “yellow fever.” Yellow fever also puts patients at an increased risk of bleeding, and so is categorized as a hemorrhagic fever. (Other diseases classified as hemorrhagic fevers include Lassa virus, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic virus, Ebola, dengue, and several types of encephalitis.)  Symptoms of this increased bleeding risk include internal bleeding, vomiting blood, and arrhythmic heartbeats. The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 30,000 deaths annually, and besides the preventative vaccine there is no known therapy or cure.

2. Yellow fever is on the rise. Several historic epidemics of the virus have been reported to have swept across the Americas, Africa and Europe, particularly in the 1800s, when it was considered one of the most deadly diseases around. However, since the 1980s the number of yellow fever cases reported has been increasing again—likely because of land disturbances and population shifts due to unrest in risk-prone regions—causing worldwide health authorities to classify yellow fever as a reemerging disease.

3. The yellow fever vaccination certificate is required for entry into certain countries.  Countries that currently require proof of immunization for all travelers older than the age of one are: Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, French Guiana, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Sierra Leone, and Togo.  Additionally, many other countries have policies that dictate requirements based on a traveler’s departure country, or whether the traveler has passed through a yellow fever risk country (or in some cases even its airport) before arriving at their destination. The Center for Disease Control’s website also hosts a comprehensive list of countries’ requirements for proof of immunization before entry.  When you get vaccinated for yellow fever, your travel health provider will issue you an internationally accepted proof of immunization certificate, which is valid for ten years.  In countries mandating vaccination, your vaccination certification will be just as important as your passport when it comes to admission through customs, so don’t forget it!

If you’re getting ready for a trip abroad and are based in or around New York City, consider a visit to the Travel Clinic of New York for a get yellow fever shot in NYC and travel health and safety information from a travel health specialist.  During a consultation tailored to fit your travel itinerary, your Travel Clinic NYC doctor can give you more information on the reasons to get vaccinated for yellow fever, administer your vaccine and give you your certification all at a convenient time and an affordable price. You can even make an appointment online at: Travel Clinic NYC.

ABCs of Yellow Fever Vaccination

If you’re planning a travel adventure and are looking for a unique and exotic experience, chances are you’ve considered visiting some of the tropical and subtropical regions of Africa or South America.  Whether you want to trek through the Brazilian rainforest or catch a wave on the West African coast, these two regions of the world have a lot to offer tourists, including diverse natural landscapes, cultures and histories. However, these areas are also both labeled by the Center for Disease Control as regions with endemic prevalence of the disease yellow fever.  Luckily, learning about the disease and getting vaccinated is as easy as ABC!

Yellow fever is a viral disease transmitted by the bite of female mosquitos. Some primates are also known to carry the disease. Those infected experience a range of symptoms, most often fever, nausea vomiting, and body aches lasting several days.  After the initial symptomatic period, many patients get better without any further complications, but some enter a second “toxic” stage, which initiates liver failure; the resulting jaundice is the reason the disease was named “yellow.”  Patients who experience this toxic phase of the disease are at increased risk of hemorrhaging, and may bleed internally and vomit blood, while also experiencing any combination of other symptoms like delirium, seizures, kidney and liver failure, coma and eventually death. The World Health Organization’s statistics report approximately 30,000 yellow fever deaths annually.

 Since there is no cure or therapy, and no way to tell whether an individual will heal quickly or experience the toxic phase of the disease, vaccination is very important for all travelers with high-risk destinations. The yellow fever vaccination is a live, weakened version of the virus given as an injection by a certified travel doctor.  Side effects of the vaccine, if any, are generally mild and may include fever, aches or soreness and swelling at the site of injection. In extremely rare cases, about one person out of 125,000, severe nervous system reactions have been reported. The vaccination takes 10-14 days to be fully effective, so be sure to schedule appointment with plenty of time before take-off. Once you’ve been immunized, the vaccine is good for ten years.

Some countries have deemed yellow fever such a big problem that they’ve developed laws requiring proof of immunization before you can enter the country.  Be sure to check your itinerary thoroughly against the Center for Disease Control’s website and talk to your travel health provider, because some countries have requirements about traveling through high-risk countries, even if you’ve just passed through the airport on layover to your final destination. When you receive your yellow fever vaccination your travel doctor should also give you a yellow card, signed and stamped, that will read “International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis.”  This card acts as proof of your travel immunizations from a travel clinic, and will be needed for entry into countries with laws requiring the yellow fever vaccine.  Anyone without proof of vaccination that wishes to enter a country with a vaccine requirement may be forced to be revaccinated and detained for up to six days for observation to be sure that they are not infected, so if you want to save a lot of time and trouble, don’t forget your yellow card!  Since yellow fever is not a prevalent disease in North America, a family medicine provider may not be equipped with the vaccine and certification materials necessary for travelers headed to far-off lands.

That’s why a travel clinic staffed by practitioners who specialize in travel health medicine is often a better choice when you’re looking to get vaccinated for yellow fever in NYC.  If you live in or around New York City, consider the Travel Clinic of New York as the place to learn about and obtain your travel vaccines.  When you find a travel clinic NYC, you can make a convenient same-day, evening or weekend appointment with a travel health provider who will teach you the ABCS of yellow fever vaccination and certification, and help you plan for your travel health and safety wherever the wind takes you! Call (212) 696-5900 for your appointment today!  

Traveling Through India? Get Your Vaccinations!

Back in 1632, Emperor Shah Jahan began construction for his late wife’s mausoleum in Agra, India. Almost four centuries later, the Taj Mahal stands as one of the world’s most romantic acts and greatest monuments in history.

          Created and domed with precious white marble, the building employed thousands of artisans and craftsmen, and took about a year to complete. With its vaulted archways, arched balconies, elegant wall calligraphy, incised painting, finial floor tiling, graceful gardens and so on, the Taj Mahal is set on the checklist if you’re traveling through India.

          Don’t start packing your bags yet though.  There are a few other things on the checklist you need to get done before you even step foot in the country. Let’s start with travel vaccinations.

          For all the fun activities and amazing sights to enjoy, there are a number of illnesses and diseases you can easily contract in Southeast Asia. Among them include Whether caused by tetanus, polio, typhoid, hepatitis A, cholera, diphteria, hepatitis B, rabies, malaria, and Japanese encephalitis. While some of them you may have received at a younger age and others seem irrelevant, you don’t want to be taking chances.

          Not only will they disrupt and potentially ruin your vacation, some can cause permanent damage or even death. Whether by food contamination, insect/animal bites, or personal contact, there’s no way you want to be feverish with severe pain gripping your stomach while touring the Taj Mahal.

          If you’d rather not risk it, stop by your doctor’s to get India travel vaccination in NYC. It takes a fairly short amount of time compared to if you were suffering in India. So set off for your southeast adventure, but first, make sure you’re prepped.

          Need a doctor who work in a travel clinic in NYC? Try ours! Located at 274 Madison Ave. Suite 304, (or check out www.travelclinicny.com) I guarantee we can help make your vacation a success.