Concerned Parents of School-Aged Children: Be Aware of Meningitis, its Symptoms & vaccine

There are few things worse than hearing of a meningitis breakout at an elementary school—one of those things would be having a child attending the school in question. With all the things parents need to worry about, we’d like to think that a meningitis outbreak would not even be on the list. These days, however, the newspapers seem to be filled with new outbreaks in varying areas of the country that are not considered high-risk in other ways. Thankfully, a meningitis vaccination is easily available at any certified travel clinic in your area.

Meningitis—even the word is frightening. What exactly is meningitis, who tends to catch it, and what can be done for it? Well, meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord covering called the meninges. Infection can be either viral or bacterial. Basically, what we are talking about are your everyday run of the mill germs. Sometimes the same exact germs that cause ear infections—or an awful case of winter pneumonia—will somehow infect this very tender part of the brain. Doctors are still at a loss to explain exactly why. What they do know, among many other things, is that the viral variety of meningitis tends to be much more dangerous that the bacterial type of meningitis. But thankfully, a travel shot is available to anyone who is deemed to be in a high-risk group for meningitis.

In terms of infections, a large majority of meningitis is caused by some rather common stomach viruses. Sometimes the travel doctor will not even be able to diagnose which type of virus has caused the onset of meningitis in any particular patient. It is still a rather misunderstood disease in many respects. No one—doctors included—can say with any real authority who will come down with meningitis and who will not. Many of the details are still largely questioned by the professionals involved in combating this serious illness. However, all of their hard work has resulted in a vaccination, and for this we should be very thankful.

Who exactly is in the high-risk group of contracting meningitis? Although meningitis affects individuals of all ages, it is most commonly seen in children (and in older people, age sixty-five and higher). People who have weakened immune systems, perhaps due to certain types of cancers or auto immune diseases are also high risk, as are individuals who smoke and who are even victims of second-hand smoke in some cases. Thankfully, a vaccination does exist to help protect everyone in these high risk groups.

In recent years, meningitis has reared its ugly head at elementary schools, college campuses, and anywhere else young (or much older)people tend to be grouped together. Meningitis strikes between 1,500 to 3,000 Americans each and every year and causes an approximate 300 to 500 fatalities. Symptoms of this dread disease include fever, headache, body aches, tiredness, and nausea. In fact, many of these so-called symptoms seem like issues that arise due to many other medical problems—and they are. This is just another reason why it is so very important to visit a doctor and be aware of the meningitis vaccine if you are in a high-risk group.

If you live in the New York City area and are interested in learning more about meningitis or any other serious health issue, please log onto TravelClinicNY.com. This certified clinic is located just several blocks from Grand Central Station and is discreet and affordable. Simply dial 1-212-696-5900 to arrange a convenient appointment during the week, some weekday nights or even on the weekend. Stay vigilant and on top of your health for a long fulfilling lifetime of pleasure and adventure!

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!  

Experience the powerful Cambodia temples, but visit your doctor for a travel immunization first

The most memorable vacations do not always involve jet skis and a cruise ship. Often, the unforgettable places we’ve traveled to offered us something a bit more thought-provoking, something that encompassed a powerful and spiritual history for a culture and we previously knew little about.

This tends to be the experience for travelers who visit the beautiful temples in Angkor, Cambodia. Every year, thousands of people take in the peaceful yet powerful presence of nearly 100 stone temples, some dating back to the 9^th century. The temples stand as astonishing remains of what was once a majestic, religious and social city. With its wooden homes long since decayed and with little preserved historical artifacts, the temples serve as the ultimate sign of Cambodia’s past. It has now become an important national symbol for Cambodia, appearing on the national flag. If you wish to peak into the rich history of a culture typically undervalued in school textbooks, buy a ticket to Cambodia. Then visit a travel doctor for the needed Cambodia travel shots, and you’re set to enjoy this beautiful country and its incredible temples.

It’s most famous temple is the Angkor Wat, and for a good reason. At this great site of temples, Angkor Wat is the best preserved and is actually still in use as a religious site for Buddhism. Its enormous structure symbolizes the mythic Mount Meru, or, the house of the gods. Walking in you will notice five rectangular walls, depicting the five peaks of the great mountain.  Before the temple began serving a Buddhist community, it was founded in praise of Hinduism. King Suryavaram II had it built in the 12^th century to honor the Hindu god, Vishnu, the supreme god of the universe.

The second temple of note is the Ta Prohm, the only structure that holds almost all of its original architecture and material. Without constant manicuring by human hands, over centuries Ta Prohm has become engulfed by the tropical rainforest’s trees. These ancient yet powerful plants have proven their strength against human constructs, having pried their thick roots in between heavy stones, cracking the framework. In the past couple of decades, Ta Prohm’s infrastructure has been repaired to prevent any more damage (including collapsing ceilings). Thus you can feel safe within these walls, or, perhaps we should say, under these trees.

Before you visit Cambodia, however, you need to be wary of the health risks present in this very humid country. Luckily, if you count on only visiting major cities such as Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh, you may not need antimalarial medication, as the Center for Disease Control lists these two cities as the only parts of the country with no cases of malaria. Yet nobody wants to be stuck in the city when there is beautiful countryside to see, so you may want to get some medicine and antimalarial medication for malaria just in case.  

 

There are other health concerns besides malaria connected with Cambodia, and nobody should go there without visiting a travel doctor first for a thorough consultation. Most importantly, you need to check out what Cambodia travel immunization nyc you will need, and get it at least four weeks before taking off. Visit this Travel clinic nyc located at 274 Madison Avenue in NYC for a complete travel consultation, including what vaccinations and medicines you should bring. Visit TravelClinicNY.com to learn more about travel clinic and to make an appointment with our experienced travel physician.

Once you get the doctor’s visit out of the way, you’re ready to experience a vacation you’ll never forget. 

Do I need the Japanese encephalitis vaccination before traveling to India?

When traveling to any country for the first time you need to consider the health risks associated with area you are about to step foot in. Health concerns for travelers depend on multiple factors, including what time of year they go, what part of the country they are visiting and what type of vacation they plan on having. For example planning an excursion through one of Brazil’s rainforests during their rainy season requires different travel medicines than planning to just sunbathe in Rio de Janeiro during the month of April.

This is also true for anyone wondering what conditions require them to get the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccination before visiting India. This depends heavily on two factors: what part of the country you intend on traveling to and what time of year you are going.

You should consider getting the JE vaccination if you are traveling to India during its monsoon season, which is anytime between May and October. The moisture gathered during the rainy season creates opportune environments for mosquito larvae. JE transmits through mosquito bites, meaning that the more of these insects around the higher the risk of contracting the disease. Take note that the rainy season may last longer in parts of southern India.

There are states that are at higher risk for JE than others. The states where the most cases of JE have been reported are Assam, Bihar, Goa, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra, Haryana, West Bengal, and Karnataka. If you are visiting any of these areas you should consider getting the vaccine. States that you do not have to worry about are Sikkim, Punjab, Nagar Haveli, Jammu, Daman, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Lakshadweep, Dadra, Diu, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya and Kashmir.  There have been no reported cases of JE from these regions and traveling to this part of the country puts you at little risk for the disease.

Before making any decisions about whether you need this vaccination or not, you need to visit a Travel clinic that specializes in travel medicine and vaccines at least four weeks before leaving the country. The Center for Disease Control strictly warns against waiting until you’re in your destination country to get any vaccinations, as many countries struggle to weed out counterfeit drugs before administering them to patients. Also, most vaccinations and medicines are taken in doses with days in between, and their effectiveness will not activate for weeks sometimes. Visit a travel doctor now if you plan on vacationing to India in the upcoming months.

If you’re looking for a great travel clinic visit the one located at 274 Madison Ave in New York City. Your physician will tell you everything you to know regarding Japanese encephalitis vaccination abroad and will make informed decisions about what vaccines you need. After a visit with the doctor at this location you will be completely prepared to stay healthy while enjoying your stay in India. To make an appointment you can call their office at 212-696-5900 or visit their website at India travel vaccination NYC

Don’t take any chances with your health while abroad; make an appointment with our travel doctor today.

Travel Vaccinations for VFRs leaving NYC

Thanks to current travel flight affordability and availability now more than ever immigrants can maintain ties with their relatives abroad. By simply clicking a few buttons online anyone can hop on a commercial flight to reconnect with one’s original homeland, and first and second generation children are taking advantage of it. Only 12% of the US population is listed as foreign born, but 34% of Americans traveling internationally list Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFRs) as a reason for travel. In less than a 12 hour flight hordes of people are reconnecting with old friends and family in their or their parent’s country of origin.
Yet these types of travelers should be particularly mindful about their health while abroad, especially considering where their origins may lie. Immigration trends to the United States have changed in recent American history. New York City’s streets no longer feel the thud of the many Italian, Irish and German immigrants that poured in from Europe at the start of the 20^th century. Immigration patterns have shifted to other countries over the past 30 years, with more individuals and families coming from Latin American, Asia and Southeast Asia than anywhere else. Alas, these areas are at particularly high risk for certain infectious diseases such as malaria, typhoid, yellow fever, hepatitis A and STDs. Knowing this all travelers should get the proper travel vaccination before taking off. Yet VFRs seem less likely than anyone to get vaccinations, and thus disproportionately contract contagious diseases while abroad. According to the Center for Disease Control, 66% of typhoid cases seen in the United States are brought over by travelers who were visiting friends and family, mostly in Latin America and South Asia. South Asia also exports 90% of the paratyphoid cases seen in the United States. The CDC found that in 2008, 65% of the malaria cases brought in by people traveling abroad came from VFRs. These types of travelers have been found to be 8 times more likely to contract malaria than any other type of tourist. A large handful of travelers have died of typhoid upon returning to the US after seeing their friends and family. Why does this happen?Much of it is explained by the pre-travel habits of people visiting their country of origin. Persons visiting friends and family tend to stay for longer periods of time in high risk areas for disease. Taking advantage of free room and board, they also tend to stay in homes instead of hotels. This directly exposes them to the local lifestyle that often implies lack of water and food precautions and mosquito repellent techniques such as bed nets, all habits that put travelers at risk for infection. People visiting their homeland also tend to dismiss health warnings from a travel doctor about the area, for they feel their heritage and connection with it gives them some kind of immunity. It is true, to an extent, that many peoples living within their country of origin do develop immunities to local diseases, but this does not mean that these immunities will stay intact after years of separation from that area. You live in an area long enough your body begins adapting to the new environment. Yet VFRs tend to largely forget about or not know about this.All VFRs should take advantage of available travel vaccinations NYC recommended for the country they wish to return to. People immigrate to the US in part due to its accessible health benefits, and immunizations are a major privilege available in this country. Visit this NYC travel clinic if you live in or nearby NYC. It is convenient, reasonably priced, and operates with a skilled, trustworthy staff of health professionals. When you visit you’ll benefit from one-on-one consultations with a board certified travel doctor that will carefully review your travel case and access your health needs before you go abroad.
Do not dismiss health warnings regarding your home country because you feel they do not apply to a “native.” Visit TravelClinicNY.com to learn more about how to protect yourself.

Attention all Travelers From NYC:Receive a Typhoid Vaccination Before Take Off!

Travelling to far off lands is a treat for the adventurous amongst us. Many people come to NYC as their destination of choice. But for those of us that live here, we prefer a more exotic locale. With these locales come different situations and dangers. The world is still full of dangerous diseases that need to be protected from. Typhoid is one such disease, and if you are planning a trip overseas to anywhere in the developing world, a vaccination is an important tool in safeguarding your good health. In the past ten years or so, Americans travelling to Africa, Latin America, and Asia have found themselves to be especially at risk.

NYC has its own dangers to be sure, but we are not speaking of catching food poisoning at a hotdog cart or getting mugged for your ipod as you jog through Central park at two in the morning. What we are speaking of is a deadly disease that affects over 400 Americans a year and over twenty million others from less-developed countries. Typhoid fever is caused by the bacterium Salmonella Typhi and is easily caught through infected food and water. A typhoid vaccination can keep a person from becoming infected.

How is it Spread?

Typhoid is a rather ugly disease anyway you look at it. The bacteria is alive and well in the feces of the infected. Therefore, anyone who handles food—but does not wash their hands thoroughly before doing so—can potentially infect another person. If typhoid gets into a region’s water supply it will multiply there and become the source of much sickness and disease. Once the bacterium is ingested, only heavy antibiotics can control its spread. It makes much more sense to receive a vaccination before potential exposure to it.

How to Avoid Typhoid Fever?

There are just two ways to avoid becoming infected with this terrible disease. The first is to avoid eating or drinking any risky food or water. And the second is, to receive a typhoid Vaccination in NYC before you jet off. In NYC, any certified travel clinic will be able to administer the proper vaccination to keep you safe during your journey.

If overseas—and in potentially hazardous area—it is possible to destroy a water-based typhoid infection by boiling the liquid for a full minute before consuming it. (Helpful hint: Let the water cool down before drinking it J.)

Avoid all ice cubes, as they are made from the general water source and might be infected.

Only eat raw fruits and vegetables that can be peeled completely, therefore removing the potentially infected rind.

Drink only bottled water.

Never eat food from a street vendor. If it is possible to catch food poisoning in NYC where our water is thoroughly treated, clean and scrumptious –just imagine what is possible in an area with typhoid in their water source.

Remember to receive a vaccination for typhoid and/or any other disease your travel doctor recommends. He/she will carefully look over your travel itinerary and point out any potentially dangerous areas on your trip.

For those of us in NYC in need of travel vaccination log onto Travel Clinic NYC for the best treatment available. Travel Clinic is located just two blocks from Grand Central Station making it easily accessible by bus or subway. Call 1-212-696-5900 today and make an appointment to see a certified travel doctor.

Specialized Healthcare.The Importance of Travel Clinics

Specialization is one of the great things about the modern healthcare system. Although there are numerous things wrong with the American healthcare system, the fact remains that when one needs a particular brand of care you can find it. From the “endocrine system” to “the foot” there’s a doctor out there for you. For those of us who enjoy travel, there are clinics out there to guarantee us the safest and healthiest of trips.

Like all other clinics, travel clinics are staffed by highly trained, certified doctors who provide the best of what’s available. They can and will review your travel itinerary to recommend needed vaccinations depending on what part of the world you are headed to. Many countries require proof of immunization before they will even allow you to enter. Certified travel clinics will have this information and fill you in on any other laws that you must adhere to.

Travel clinics can also provide you with enough of your prescribed medicines that you will feel comfortable knowing that you have the required amount while overseas. Their counseling is tailored to your specific needs and medical history.

You wouldn’t head off into the woods without protection for mosquitoes, would you? So why should you travel to another country without the proper protection? Travel clinics are a great source of information on a particular countries health risks and safety concerns.

If you live in the New York City area and are planning to vacation overseas, log onto Travel Clinic website for the highest quality information and care. They are located just two short blocks from Grand Central Station and are easily accessible by buses and subway. To arrange an appointment, simply call 1-212-696-5900 to speak to one of their helpful and discreet staff members. Take advantage of a travel doctor. We’re lucky to have them.

Teaching English Across the Globe-Travel Clinics NYC Are Key to Overseas Employment

There’s no denying that job opportunities in the United Sates are at a historic low point. In the old days (you know, ten years ago), you went to school, studied hard and then found yourself a pretty decent gig. The money started trickling in, you worked hard and you moved up the ladder to earn even more money. Things are quite different these days. If you’ve worked hard for the past few years (and thus make a decent amount of cash), you’ve probably found yourself on the chopping block. Your salary, it seems, would be better off going to the CEOs. Everything we were taught about how to get ahead in this world has gone terribly awry.

If you are young, with no spouse & children keeping you tethered to these United States of America, there is a fine option for you. Teaching English overseas is a booming industry. You get paid quite decently and you get to have some real life experience, calling another country home for a year or two. For this reason, travel clinics have seen their bottom line rise as well. What does it take to teach English overseas? Here are a few popular questions and answers that will help figure out whether this is the path for you.

Is it possible to pick the country you will be teaching in?

Absolutely. Many companies that specialize in this industry take your preference very seriously. It’s not good for you—or the company’s reputation—if you get shipped off to a place that you do not want to be in.

Do the interviews take place overseas?

No. There are many companies in America that have vast networks overseas. It is the only prudent way to run this industry. You will be interviewed here at home and the facility overseas is contracted to accept you. There is a chance that before you leave you will need to have a vaccination. Travel clinics work with these companies to make sure you remain healthy while at your new job.

Do I need a degree to get a job overseas?

Generally a degree is needed in order to obtain an overseas work visa. Criteria changes and different places accept different qualifications. Put the feelers out to a bunch of companies and see what turns up.

How long is the commitment?

Many companies require a year overseas. This seems to be the norm for the industry. Again, with so many companies hiring English teachers you may find one that allows a shorter work commitment. However, many times you will find that you will enjoy your work so much that you will want to extend the commitment. It’s a great job—with adventure built in.

Travel vaccination centers are a key piece to this process. Once hired, visit one of many travel clinics in order to guarantee that you are protected from any illness you may acquire while your country of destination. People planning trips overseas, for however long, should visit travel clinics for a host of good advice, inoculations and medication.

For those interested in visiting a travel clinic NYC and who live in the New York City area, log onto TravelClinicNY.com. This is a certified facility that stands above other travel clinics. It is staffed by highly dedicated travel doctor whose main objective is to protect you as you enjoy your journey. Call 1-212-696-5900 for more information—and remember, even when your future looks way different than you may have imagined it being, there are ways to salvage your dreams