Stay Away from Mosquitoes and Aware of Yellow Fever

Are you looking forward to exotic travels, having finally found that chance to make your way to South America or Africa? Well, while you’re deciding what to pack for your next adventure, be sure to consider taking the vaccine for yellow fever before you leave.

What’s Yellow Fever?          

It’s important for travelers to central and western Africa as well as parts of Latin America to be knowledgeable of the risks posed by yellow fever. This illness is transmitted by mosquitoes, which acquire a virus from infected primates or humans and then pass it on to others who are bitten. Yellow fever is marked by three types of transmission cycles, and may be acquired in jungle (sylvan), savannah (intermediate), and city (urban) settings.

How can it affect me?

The majority of individuals infected by the yellow fever virus show no symptoms; but each year, many do suffer signs of the illness following an incubation period of three to six days after infection. Affected individuals often experience a sudden fever, chills, intense headache, back pain, body aches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue, and weakness. Once the virus does develop into the illness, the only course of action is to treat symptoms in order to provide comfort, meanwhile allowing the immune system to fight the fever.

Many patients improve after this “acute” phase, which lasts three to four days; but, 15% of patients go on to develop a more severe hemorrhagic fever after an initial remission period of about 24 hours. The high fever characteristic of the illness returns, and now affects multiple body systems. Yellow fever’s victims quickly develop the jaundice for which the virus is named, and may experience abdominal pain as well as vomiting. Bleeding can occur from the mouth, nose, eyes, or stomach, and appears in the vomit and feces. Kidney function deteriorates, and up to half of all patients who enter this toxic phase expire within two weeks.

How can I protect myself?        

Due to the difficulty of diagnosing yellow fever from its initial symptoms, and the potentially dire effects of disease progression, it is absolutely necessary for at risk travelers to protect themselves against the illness. Mosquito repellent is always recommended, but the best course of action is to get the yellow fever vaccination before embarking! The yellow fever vaccine is safe, affordable, and highly effective. A single dose of the vaccine can provide immunity within 30 days, and remains effective for a lifetime without an additional booster shot!

If you are affected by HIV, have primary immune deficiency, or are engaging in an immunosuppressive therapy, it is not appropriate to receive the yellow fever vaccination. Additionally, the vaccine should not be given to children under six months of age or individuals with allergies to albumin. If you are over 60 years of age, may be pregnant, or are breastfeeding, please consult a doctor before vaccination. In all other circumstances, be sure to visit your closest immunization clinic a month before traveling!

Dangers of Typhoid: Are You In The Know?

In a previous post about typhoid fever, I discussed the importance of the typhoid vaccine. Today, I am going to show the effects of typhoid fever, the warning signs, the symptoms, and why the vaccine should even be considered. The vaccination as I stated in the previous article about typhoid fever, though it has side-effects, are not severe and have been proven to be rather mild with such side effects as headaches, fever, and swelling at the site of the injection.

Every year, there are 16 million new cases of typhoid fever around the world. The virus mostly infects an individual’s liver, intestines, gallbladder, spleen, urinary and digestive system. Transmission of the virus can occur when an individual ingests contaminated food and water that have traces of the bacteria or infected feces of a person who carries the virus. Poor hygiene habits, poor public sanitation conditions, and flying insects that feed on feces can also lead to possible infection of the virus. Due to these numerous causes, many educational programs have highly suggested people to change their hygiene habits, to wash their hands thoroughly after cleaning after themselves and before handling food.

Symptoms appear within the first week after infection. Early symptoms, as with many other diseases, are flu-like causing fever, muscle aches, cough, and headaches. By the end of the first week, there is already a decrease in white blood cells which are the immune system’s primary defense against infection and disease. As the weeks go by, symptoms gradually worsen causing high fever, rashes, diarrhea, chills, delirium, constant nosebleeds, severe fatigue, hallucinations, and strong abdominal pain. Red spots also begin to appear on the lower chest and stomach. At its worst, typhoid fever eventually causes intestinal hemorrhage (due to bleeding on parts of the torn lymphoid tissue in the lower intestine), and intestinal perforation (an open hole in the final section of the small intestine) which is serious and in nearly all cases fatal.

Typhoid fever can last between three weeks to a month and an individual can recover after treatment. It’s been discovered that in cases that are untreated, about 10-30% of infected individuals do not survive. Those in the recovery process may have to go through surgical procedures if they endured intestinal perforation.

Despite the fact that the number of the cases in some parts of the world have decreased greatly thanks to the raising of awareness of typhoid by many public educational programs, vaccination is still recommended to prevent infection. There some parts of the world that the virus is still prevalent especially in developing countries where healthcare is low and poor sanitary conditions is common. So if you are planning to travel this summer, take into consideration vaccination because it’ll help you have immunity against the virus for many years. Even if you are not travelling, it’s best to begin considering the vaccine. We are surrounded by millions of people a year and going from place to place all the time. Sometimes the people that are in our surroundings may have hygiene habits that we may be unaware of.

In 1906, an incident occurred when a recovered typhoid victim was working as a cook. Mary Mallon suffered typhoid fever but was treated and though she had recovered, she still carried the virus and was a carrier for the rest of her life. During her time as a cook, beginning in 1906, she infected more than 50 individuals, three of whom who later died from typhoid. 

Once more, this article is not meant to strike fear in society nor warn people of a possible outbreak. But it is still important to consider vaccination because the disease can infect anybody and can be transmitted into an individual without them even noticing. If you are considering vaccination or are in need of it, visit us at our website at www.travelclinicny.com or call us at 212-696-5900 to schedule an appointment. Find out how you can get the typhoid vaccination today! As I always say, a clean bill of health is always bliss!

Planning For Healthy Travel: Yellow Fever Vaccine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that approximately 4 million travelers to developing regions are ill enough to seek health care, either while abroad or upon returning home. While traveling internationally is already a painstaking process, involving visas, careful planning, packing, itineraries, a trip to the travel clinic must also be added to this list.

 The CDC notes that in order to ensure a healthful business or tourist excursion, one must adopt some preventative measures. In accordance with the Travel Health Notices they publish consistently, are necessary travel vaccinations. One such is the yellow fever vaccine. Yellow fever is an acute viral hemorrhagic disease transmitted by infected mosquitoes. The "yellow" in the name refers to the jaundice that affects some patients once bitten. According to the World Health Organization, 50% of severely affected persons will die if left untreated. Given these sorts of statistics, preventative measures are most responsible.

  

While there are many reasons to get vaccinated for yellow fever, the acute rapidity of the illness is most alarming. Once bitten, symptoms will ensue within 3 to 6 days. The symptoms of Stage 1 infection include  Headache, muscle and joint aches, fever, flushing, loss of appetite, vomiting, and jaundice are common. Though symptoms often go away briefly after about 3 to 4 days and stage 2 may be possible remission, some persons worsen drastically within 24 hours. Stage 3, called intoxication is marked by problems with many organs including heart, liver, and kidney failure, bleeding disorders, seizures, coma, and delirium.

In order to prevent these caustic symptoms and possible death, a yellow fever vaccine should be prearranged at a certified travel clinic about 10 to 14 days before traveling. Ultimately, alongside the three pairs of bright swimsuits you’re packing, sunscreen and new shoes you bought yesterday just for this excursion, should be travel vaccines. The yellow fever vaccine is but one that may be necessary.

Hepatitis B: Get Protected

In recognition of World Hepatitis Day on July 28, educate yourself on the hepatitis B virus. Read on to find answers to all the questions you may have about Hepatitis B and its prevention.

What is hepatitis B?

Hepatitis B is an infectious inflammatory illness of the liver. Caused by the hepatitis B virus, the disease has caused epidemics in different parts of the world, including Asia and Africa. About a third of today’s world population has been infected by the virus at some point, and approximately 350 million people are chronic carriers.
Symptoms of the virus include abdominal pain, fever, vomiting, weakness and fatigue, and jaundice. Most infants and children with hepatitis B, as well as some adults, never develop symptoms. 

How is the hepatitis B virus transmitted?

Unlike hepatitis A, hepatitis B cannot normally spread through contaminated food or water. It is instead transmitted through infectious blood and other bodily fluids, including semen and vaginal fluids. In the past, the virus has been transmitted through sexual contact , blood transfusions, re-use of contaminated syringes, and vertical transmission from mother to child.

After the hepatitis B virus enters the liver, the virus invades the cells and multiplies, leading to liver inflammation and the symptoms associated with the hepatitis B infection.

Is there a vaccine available for hepatitis B prevention?

Several vaccines are available on the market today for the purpose of hepatitis B prevention. Vaccines today are commonly made using a synthetic recombinant DNA technology, and they do not contain blood products. Patients will not be infected through this vaccination.

The Hepatitis B vaccination process usually consists of three or four injections. The first and second doses provide complete protection against the hepatitis B virus，and the final dose (either the third or fourth dose, depending on how many doses were administered in total) provides prolonged protection.

Poor responses to the vaccine are usually only associated with those over the age of 40, smokers, and alcoholics, especially those with advanced liver disease. Poor responses have also occasionally been noticed in patients who are obese and patients with HIV.

How else can I protect myself against hepatitis B?

Since hepatitis B is transferred through contact with infectious bodily fluids, the virus can be transmitted through unprotected sexual contact, unsafe blood transfusions, re-use of contaminated needles and syringes, and vertical transmission from mother to child during child birth. Infants should be vaccinated at birth.

Protect yourself by practicing safe sex. Don't engage in unprotected sex unless you are positive that your partner is not infected with hepatitis B or any other sexually transmitted disease. Never share needles, and always sterilize. Also, be cautious when getting piercings or tattoos; make sure that the employees sterilize their needles.

Especially if you are planning on visiting a region or country where hepatitis B is more prevalent, visit a travel clinic to ask a doctor about the hepatitis B vaccine in advance. The series of injections is usually administered over a six-month period.

Hepatitis B is a dangerous virus, but you can protect yourself. Take precautions, and get vaccinated!

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.