NYC: The Concrete Jungle The Importance of a Meningitis Vaccination

Although there are outbreaks of meningitis in NYC, you should be far more worried if you are taking a trip overseas. The rare outbreak in NYC is usually contained to a school and typically affects one or two students. Overseas the disease is much more common place and a vaccination is recommended for many a world traveler.

What exactly is meningitis and why is a vaccination so important? Meningitis is a bacterial disease spread from one person to the next through coughing, sneezing or any other one-on-one type contact (such as smooching or sharing a hamburger or a cola). Although NYC is the type of city that a person-to-person infection can spread like wildfire, great medical care and the vaccination have made it a thankfully rare occurrence.

The symptoms of meningitis are the following: fever, painful headaches, stiff neck, nausea and vomiting. Be on the lookout for these symptoms always, but if you are planning a trip overseas you should visit a certified travel clinic to see if your destination country is deemed high-risk. If it is—a vaccination is an intelligent choice to retain your good health while traveling.

Where in the world does meningitis still run rampant? There are many countries (and your doctor will know which ones), but the disease seems to be concentrated in several areas including the Mideast and Africa. Countries of destination where a vaccination is highly recommended include:

• ·         Angola
• ·         Benin
• ·         Burkina Faso
• ·         Burundi
• ·         Cameroon
• ·         Central African Republic
• ·         Chad, Cote d'Ivoire
• ·         Democratic Republic of the Congo
• ·         Eritrea
• ·         Ethiopia
• ·         Gambia
• ·         Ghana
• ·         Guinea
• ·         Kenya
• ·         Mali
• ·         Niger
• ·         Nigeria
• ·         Rwanda
• ·         Senegal
• ·         Somalia
• ·         Sudan
• ·         Tanzania
• ·         Togo
• ·         Uganda
• ·         Zambia
• ·         and Saudi Arabia

Although many of these countries are not popular tourist destinations, many Americans visit these places for pleasure, as well as in relation to their employment. Others visit these countries on humanitarian missions and with the military and its satellite agencies. A meningitis vaccination is always a good idea when in these regions.

There are different forms of meningitis, and these include viral meningitis and bacterial meningitis. Yet, no matter the strain, you will benefit from a vaccination. These vaccinations are quick, easy and affordable and are only available at a certified travel clinic. Luckily, NYC has more travel clinics than most areas in the United States.

As previously mentioned, those in America (and namely big cities such as NYC) should also be careful when it comes to this dangerous and potentially deadly disease. About three thousand people are diagnosed with meningitis in the United States each year and more than 300 of them will succumb to it and die.

The vaccination is administered as a single inoculation, not much of a physical price to pay for such an awful disease. Side effects are few and rare and may include redness at the injection site. This only occurs in ten to fifteen percent of those who receive the vaccination and will typically go away between twenty-four and forty-eight hours after the shot is administered.

For those in NYC who can choose a certified travel clinic, why not log onto Travel Clinic NYC This is a professional and discreet travel clinic located just blocks from Grand Central Station. Simply dial 1-212-696-5900 to make an appointment today. Remember that the meningitis vaccination is recommended to be administered two to three weeks before you travel.

The Truth About Tetanus! NYC Dangers & The Vaccination

Rusty nail, this. Rusty nail, that. It seems like every time someone is barefoot in NYC, there’s someone screaming, “Watch out for rusty nails!” or “Don’t step on a rusty nail—you’ll get tetanus!” Well, we’re here to tell you that rust does NOT cause tetanus. We know it’s hard to comprehend because of how many times we’ve heard this old wives tail growing up but in the following article we will explain what DOES cause tetanus and how helpful a simple vaccination is towards protecting ourselves from catching it.

What is tetanus?

It is a dangerous bacterial disease common all over the world. Many people refer to it as “lockjaw,” as one of its symptoms is a tightening of mouth muscles. Tetanus cannot be spread from person to person, it must be caught firsthand. The tetanus bacteria are found in soil and can enter the bloodstream through the tiniest of cuts and wounds. One can even become infected with tetanus through a scratch on the skin surface.

The reason that we have been warned against rusty nails our entire lives is that rusty nails are most commonly found outside in the dirt where the bacteria resides. Rust is a rough surface when looked at under a microscope, thus it is the ideal place for the bacteria to cling to. Infection can occur if your skin is punctured by the nail. Because of the tetanus vaccination, the cases of “lockjaw” have been dwindling in NYC and across the country.

The first sign of tetanus infection is muscle stiffness, especially around the mouth, jaw and neck. Once infection takes hold severe muscle spasms may occur. The muscles may spasm so severely that they “lock” up and can cause difficulty swallowing and even breathing. It is possible to die from suffocation if suffering from a severe case of tetanus. According to the Centers For Disease Control & Prevention, tetanus will be fatal (death) in one in ten cases!

Because tetanus is so dangerous and can cause severe autonomic nervous system disorders, the vaccination is the most important step in protection. Individuals should know that it is not one simple shot but a series that are spread over months. Depending on the amount of time spent outdoors, adults should receive the vaccination every ten years.

Chances are the vaccine was administered as a child with other more common vaccinations such as measles and whooping cough. If you have a child attending summer camp—or who spends a great deal of time outdoors playing—a vaccination is highly recommended. The recommendation includes children in NYC. 

Who should NOT receive the tetanus vaccination?

Individuals who have an already comprised immune system due to existing health problems such as cancer or HIV, and/or anyone undergoing radiation treatment should not receive the vaccine. If suffering from a neurological disorder, speak to your doctor about the risks associated with the vaccine.

Pregnant women CAN receive a tetanus vaccine but the need should be great. Once again, a doctor should be consulted. Many times a doctor will hold off administering the vaccine to a pregnant woman unless there is a significant outbreak in her area and there is a serious threat that she will become infected.

Tetanus is too dangerous to take chances with. Therefore, if you live in the NYC area and need to visit a certified travel clinic, log onto NYC Travel Clinic for more information and to arrange an appointment today. Travel Clinic of New York is located mere blocks from Grand Central Station, making it easily accessible by all modes of public transportation. Call 1-212-696-5900 to speak to a person and to get more information. It makes good sense to protect against tetanus then to have to treat it once infected.

 

NYC to Africa. Travel Vaccination Protection

Looking for a unique travel idea? Here’s a trip that’s a long way from NYC and will fill you with excitement and wonder. Go get a new suitcase, a vaccination, a reliable camera and head off to Africa to visit the Masai peoples! The who?

The Masai.

This African tribe is famous for being noble and fearless warriors who once dominated the plains of East Africa. The Masai are known for their tall, muscular features and their distinctive dress. Seeing a male tribe member in the flesh is astonishing. Typically they hold fierce-looking spears and are adorned in blood-red shoulder cloaks. The women are beautiful and adorn themselves in intricate jewelry and bangles. Both sexes wear earrings and take pride in stretching long holes in their lobes. The men sometimes wear elaborate headdresses made from lions manes or ostrich feathers. Both men and women shave their heads.

Aside from the many countries that are suffering through political strife, Africa is a beautiful continent to visit. Visiting a Masai village affords you to the opportunity to absorb true-to-life African tribal culture and so much more. However, due to indigenous diseases present on the continent, a travel vaccination is definitely recommended. Especially if the traveler is from NYC and has only built up an immunity to eating dirty water hotdogs!

How do the Masai live?

The Masai are very family oriented and reside in huts that are encircled in enclosures made from sharpened sticks and prickly thorn bushes in order to protect their cattle herds from predators. This enclosure is called an Enkang. Each Enkang includes approximately 10 to 20 small huts made from branches pasted together with fresh cow-dung. (How’s that for an exciting travel experience?!)

The huts are typically small and have holes in the roofs. The holes serve two purposes. The first is to let a little light in, and the second is to allow smoke to escape from the smoldering cow-dung (!) fire kept ablaze for cooking and warmth. For your average resident of NYC a cow-dung fire may not seem like the best place to make smores, but the smoke drives away the insects and for that you will be thankful.

 

Before heading anywhere in Africa be sure to check the rules and regulations regarding whether a travel vaccination is necessary. For instance, in many countries in Africa proof of a yellow fever vaccination is necessary for entry. This routine travel vaccination can be acquired at any certified travel clinic. NYC has many highly regarded facilities of this type.

A travel clinic can help you prepare for a trip in so many ways. If you are planning an overseas journey, visiting one is a must. For those of us who live in NYC or its surrounding boroughs, think about visiting Travel Clinic New York. Easily accessible by mass transit, this clinic is certified to administer all travel vaccinations—and so much more. Just log onto TravelClinicNY.com or call 1-212-696-5900 to make an appointment. Stay safe and have fun.

The Top Three Reasons To Visit an NYC Travel Clinic

C’mon we’re all from NYC, we all assume we have a little more common sense the rest of the country. Our daily issues are more complicated than how many pinches of rhubarb it takes to ruin an apple pie or what to do if Mabel the cow’s udders are swollen and sore. Our issues are real, like how to pay our hundred-thousand dollar rent on time or the best liquids to toss on top of a sleeping homeless man in order to remove him from our front steps. If you are from NYC and you are planning on overseas travel, get yourself to a travel clinic to ascertain some really great common-sense tips to stay healthy and happy.

The neighborhood travel clinics has been a fixture in many a NYC neighborhood for years. Unfortunately, many of us just pass them by figuring, “Why add another expense to my already expensive trip?” First off, the pricing at a travel clinic is way lower than you would expect. Secondly, how much of a price would you put on keeping yourself, your friends and your family safe from illness and disease?

With that in mind, let us take a look at the top three reasons why visiting a travel clinic should be on this NYC resident’s travel itinerary:

Blood Clot, Mon

Many of us jaded NYC denizens do not realize the risk of just getting to where we are attempting to go to. Individuals with poor circulation or other medical issues run a high risk of forming blood clots in their veins while on an airplane. A travel doctor can discuss this danger with you. After ascertaining your medical history they will recommend how to keep these potentially fatal blood clots from forming.

Jet Lag

Jet lag is common in travelers who pass through time zones. Although there are many old wives tales out there offering cockamamie answers to this common problem, many of them are not based on science at all. After discussing your flight plans with a certified travel clinic doctor he can recommend many treatment options for jet lag that will not knock you out the game for a day and half. After all, vacations are usually for a short period of time. Why waste precious moments of it inside your hotel room sleeping off jet lag.

Vaccinations & Immunizations

Being from NYC you have either traveled the world like a cosmopolitan king or queen or you’ve never left your avenue in Brooklyn. Either way, the wide world still harbors many diseases that require serious protection. Many times that protection will come in the form of a vaccination or an immunization. Not all clinics or doctors can administer these shots. The fact is that only a certified travel clinic is allowed to offer this type of medicine.

It is also a fact that many countries in the world will not allow you entry inside their borders without a lawful certificate stating that you have received this vaccination or that immunization. Again, it is only the certified travel clinic that can provide this paperwork.

When it is time for any or all New York City citizens to plan that dreamed-of travel itinerary, they should log onto Travel Clinic NYC to get the ball a’rollin’. Log on and check them out. They are certified and located just two blocks from Grand Central Station—and thus easily accessible by bus and subway to all of us who reside in NYC. You may also call 1-212-696-5900 to arrange a convenient appointment. Remember, there are more than three reasons why visiting a certified travel clinic makes great sense.

The Danger of Yellow Fever Receiving the Vaccine in NYC

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.

The perfect travel itinerary:camera,cash and immunization

When traveling overseas, there are few things that one should never be without. The first is your camera, preserving your memories is a great way to relive your fun and adventure. Then there is extra cash in order to experience everything the country has to offer. The next is whatever travel immunization is recommended for your particular trip. One must do all they can to protect themselves from any illness that lurks in their destination country.

Believe it or not, diseases that have been eradicated in the United States for decades and longer are still prevalent overseas. One doesn’t worry about contracting a disease like yellow fever when vacationing in Orlando, Florida. But if your travel plans take you to any country in Asia, Africa or Central and South America you should have a yellow fever vaccination administered four to six weeks before you arrive.

The statistics, according to the World Health Organization, state that over 30,000 people will die this year alone from yellow fever. The disease is spread effectively and quickly from the bite of an average (but infected) mosquito. Before getting aboard any plan to fly overseas, visit a travel clinic to get the low down. The immunization shot for yellow fever lasts a full ten years and is only available from a select group of doctors who are certified to administer them.

Immunization is the process by which our immune system is built up in order to protect us from a particular microscopic agent that would otherwise do our bodies harm. By administering a small amount of the agent in question an automatic protective response is triggered through what is known as “immunological memory.” They have been keeping people safe from disease since the year 1796 when a British doctor named Edward Jenner developed a vaccine for smallpox.

For those in the NYC area in search of a certified travel clinic, log onto Travel Clinic New York. They are just blocks from Grand Central Station and are a respected and prized part of the community there. Because of their proximity to Grand Centra, they are easily accessible by mass transit by all New Yorkers. Call 1-212-696-5900 to arrange an appointment today.

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 clinic is 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  NYC 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 specialist. We’re lucky to have them.