Yellow Fever

After the past Fourth of July weekend, summer is felt in full bloom: BBQ get-togethers, summer vacations at exotic places, long lines outside Haagen-Dazs on a hot and humid day, the beautiful late-setting sun. And unfortunately, with the full bloom of summer comes the full bloom of mosquitoes.  The daunting humming noise they make as they fly around waiting for the exact moment to strike at our epidermis and the grotesque, sleep-disrupting bumps that result from their blood-sucking activities are enough visuals to make anyone cringe. 

While most mosquitoes are just annoying and not dangerous (thank goodness - otherwise we'd all be suffering from West Nile or some other scary disease), one type of mosquito to be aware of is the Aedes aegypti - or A. aegypti. These nuissances can be easily recognized by white markings on their legs and a marking in the form of a lyre on their thorax - not that ugly, right? Originating in Africa, they now inhabit various tropical and subtropical regions throughout South and Central America and Africa. Seems pretty harmless. So why do we care about them? They are commonly connotated with carrying the YELLOW FEVER VIRUS, an acute viral hemorrhagic disease. 

Perusing the WebMD page for yellow fever may be a little worrying; descriptions of the disease include "damage to the liver, kidney, heart, and gastrointestinal tract" and major symptoms include "jaundice and hemorrhages". The Wikipedia article is even more intimidating: the symptoms list expands to include "fever, chills, anorexia, nausea, muscle pain (with prominent backache) and headache" with "no causative cure." The Wiki page then proceeds to throw descriptions like "positive sense single-stranded RNA is approximately 11,000 nucleotides long and has a single open reading frame" (translation: the viruses have single-stranded genetic material that are directly translated into proteins in a certain pattern after the genetic material enters the nucleus of the host cell; the resulting protein consists of about 3000 amino acids, which isn't huge for a protein); "viruses affect... 

monocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells... attach to the cell surface via specific receptors and are taken up by an endosomal vesicle" (translation: viruses attach to the surface of large white blood cells, foreign particle-engulfing cells, and immune system messenger cells at specific locations in order to insert their genetic material into the nucleus of the host cell); and "the viral genome is replicated in the rough endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and in the... vesicle packets" (translation: the protein that this 'scary' virus codes for is produced in the endoplasmic reticulum, an accordion-like structure that houses little round organelles called ribosomes, which translate the jumbled A's, C's, G's, and U's of RNA into proteins). 

Seen in the translated light, the yellow fever virus isn't that bad. The best part? This disease is easily preventable through vaccination, which are available at designated vaccination centers (AND they'll give you proper verification paperwork). This preventative measure is highly advised for people 9 months through 59 years of age traveling to a location where the risk of yellow fever is known to exist. In addition to receiving the vaccine, the CDC also highly advises people in areas where the pesky A. aegypti are to take preventative to avoid mosquito bites. 

If you're a traveler living in New York City and would like to take care of yellow fever vaccination, visit Travelclinicny.com to avoid painful symptoms during an exotic vacation. Log on to find out all the information you need, or simply dial 1-212-696-5900 to speak to a friendly staff member and arrange an appointment today. Located in midtown Manhattan, Walk In Clinic of New York is easily accessible by bus and subway.

B Forewarned: The Do’s and Don'ts of Hepatitis B

If there is anything worse than a liver infection, it’s a viral liver infection. Unlike bacterial infections, viruses cannot be directly treated or eradicated from the system with medication or surgical procedures. For this reason, prevention is always a better course of action than treatment after exposure to the disease. Fortunately, when it comes to the Hepatitis B virus, a simple vaccine can eliminate the risk of contracting not only the disease, but also a number of its potentially dangerous symptoms. Read on to discover the do’s and don'ts of avoiding, preventing, and treating Hepatitis B. 

B-ing Risky: Potential Causes of Hepatitis B

There are a number of activities and situations that may cause the spread of the Hepatitis B virus from person to person. The virus is typically passed between individuals in blood, semen, or other bodily fluids. For these reasons, it is important to know whether or not your sexual partner may have Hepatitis B. The virus can also spread through the shared use of needles or syringes. Thus, intravenous drug use fundamentally heightens your risk of getting the disease. Hepatitis B can also be passed from mother to child during childbirth.

Fortunately, there are a number of effective precautions that can help you avoid exposure to the virus. Other than knowing the Hepatitis B status of your sexual partner, consistently using a new latex or polyurethane condom during intercourse significantly reduces the risk of contracting the disease.

Stopping the use of illicit intravenous drugs is another essential precautionary measure. If you are unable to stop, however, it is nevertheless critical that you use a sterile syringe with every injection, and that you never share needles.

If you plan on getting a tattoo or a body piercing, it is also important to find a reputable shop where you can inquire about cleaning practices, as tools in tattoo and piercing parlors are occasionally contaminated by the virus and not properly cleaned.

The virus is also more prominent in certain geographic regions, such as Africa, parts of Central and Southeast Asia, and Eastern Europe. If you are planning a trip to any of these areas, it is important to receive the Hepatitis B vaccination well in advance.

Types of Hepatitis B

There are two basic manifestations of the Hepatitis B virus: either acute infection or chronic infection. Acute infection is far more common, and may last up to six months. Chronic Hepatitis B, on the other hand, lasts six months or longer. Although it shares a number or symptoms with the acute form of the infection, it may also be lifelong and cause a number of far more serious illnesses such as liver cancer, cirrhosis, and other liver diseases. Chronic Hepatitis B occurs far more frequently in infants and children who are exposed to the virus at a very young age.

B Proactive: Prevention and Treatment Options

If the disease is already contracted, there are ways of treating certain symptoms. In many acute cases, however, the body is able to eventually eliminate the virus on its own. In chronic cases, however, a doctor may prescribe anti-viral medication. In the event that Chronic Hepatitis B causes extreme liver damage, a liver transplant may be the best option.

Of course, prevention trumps these treatment options. The best way to protect yourself from Hepatitis B is vaccination. The Hepatitis B vaccine is administered as a series of three or four shots over a six-month period. It is recommended that children be vaccinated at birth or between the ages of 1 and 5. If you have yet to receive the vaccination as an adult, it is highly recommended that you get your Hepatitis B vaccination while you're in New York before traveling into regions with a greater risk or engaging in risky behavior.