University Students Adapting to Travel Concerns
University study abroad programs throughout the United States are gaining in popularity each year. For 2008, CNN.com listed the top three Universities with the most students enrolled in study abroad programs at NYU, with 2,809, Michigan State, with 2,558, and The University of Texas at Austin, with 2,244 students. With the current value of the U.S. dollar declining against other strong foreign currencies such as the Euro, American college students are beginning to reconsider travel destinations and programs through their universities when making the decision to study abroad. Many of the students who previously considered studying in Italy or France for a semester are now discouraged by the high cost of living due to exchange rates of the U.S. dollar. Currently, the dollar is valued around 20% less than the Euro. Many students are now considering other destinations such as Africa and South America for their education to place less strain on their wallets.
While Americans are adapting to the new economic problems to sustain their ways of living, other concerns arise from these new travel destinations. These include cultural practices and standards, locating clean food and water sources, as well as taking measures to protect themselves from native disease and sickness found in the foreign communities.
One way students can help ensure they have a safe and enjoyable trip is to visit a nurse at Passport Health who will prepare them for their time abroad. Passport Health offers services including: travel information on countries and cultures all over the world, travel kits with items from anti-diarrheal medicine to bug lotion and spray with DEET, as well as health recommendations and the ability to provide any vaccinations travelers may need when leaving the U.S. For more information about Passport Health, call 1-888-499-PASS or click on the “Contact Us” link on our homepage to ensure your trip is a safe and memorable one.
Preparing for a trip to Peru
One of our customers describes her preparation for a trip to Peru. Of course, one of the things she had to do was to visit a Passport Health office to make sure she stays healthy.
Click Here to read about her experience and view some pictures of her visit to Passport Health.
Traveler to Malawi and Ethiopia blogs about travel vaccines and Passport Health
Once in a while our customers are so fascinated with our service that they decide to write about their experiences with Passport Health on their blog. This was her first time going to a travel health clinic. She found it to be a very pleasant and convenient experience.
Click Here to see what immunizations she received, declined and to read the rest of the story on her blog.
Measles Awareness Report
In 2007, when Japanese tourists were restricted from the flight home from Canada due to 1-2 members of the group contracting the measles disease, every person in the 42-person group who did not have a record of being vaccinated for measles had to be quarantined for 3-5 days before being allowed to complete their trip back to Japan. In 2004, 25% of students contracted measles while on a trip to
Due to low vaccine coverage in areas with high reports of the disease and the increase of tourism travel to these areas, eradication programs continue to be complicated and face resistence. Many people aren’t fully aware of the disease itself, much less the need for vaccination against it. Even in the
Measles is a highly contagious infectious diseas, with potentially fatal complication, and still stands as a cause of public health concern in developing countries (ISTM, Journal of Travel Medicine, Volume 15, Issue 2, 2008, pp124-125). It is recommended that anyone born after 1957 get properly vaccinated with a primary series as a pediatric and one booster as an adult. Passport Health offers the MMR (Mumps, Measles, Rubella) vaccine in all of our locations, please call us at: 1-888-499-PASS (7277) if you have further questions or concerns.
Top 10 Health Tips for International Travel
Michelle Reesman, RN, Executive Director of Passport Health Colorado says far too many international travelers, from business travelers to the more adventurous types, leave home without taking the basic steps she suggests below. “People need to put the same kind of preparation into their health as they do into their destination choice, passport acquisition or flight plans,” Reesman advises.
- Get advice from a travel health professional. Four to six weeks before departure, consult a Travel Medicine Specialist for the most up-to-date immunization, malaria recommendations and consultation. They can answer your questions and prepare you for a safe and healthy trip. It’s important to get your immunizations early, as some of the medication take time to effectively immunize you.
- Protect yourself from disease-bearing insects. Wear protective clothing and use products containing 20-30% DEET, the insect repellent permethrin and bed nets.
- Never go barefoot, even on the beach.
- Make sure your water is purified. Do not use tap water when brushing your teeth.
- Consume only well-cooked food. Fruits and veggies? Peel it, boil it or forget it!
- Pre-fill your prescriptions, they may not be available at your destination. Take extra in case your trip is extended. In some countries counterfeit medications can be a problem. Carry medications in their original packaging and pack in your carry-on luggage.
- Don’t swim in rivers, lakes, ponds or streams. Well-chlorinated pools and salt water are usually considered safe.
- Take a basic first aid kit. Include medications for pain relief, such as ibuprofen and Tylenol, topical preparations for minor skin wounds and infections, and medications for allergic reactions (Benadryl). Consider presumptive treatment (Imodium and an antibiotic) for traveler’s diarrhea. Discuss the appropriate antibiotics for your destination with a Travel Medicine Specialist.
- Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of medical problems among tourists. Avoid riding motorcycles, or wear a helmet, and don’t drink and drive. Wear a seat-belt and only travel during daylight hours.
- Purchase travel insurance that includes emergency medical evacuation. Most medical insurance plans aren’t accepted when you travel internationally. One travel insurance company we recommend, called Seven Corners (formerly known as Liaison International) It can also be accessed from our website, just scroll to the bottom and the link will be on the right-hand side.
At Passport Health, our Travel Medicine Specialist assess your individual needs, prescribe and administer immunizations and medication, and discuss any precautionary measures for dietary and recreational activities. You will also receive the latest information of health risks and requirements for each destination on your travel itinerary. We use a variety of resources including the Center for Disease Controls (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Department of State so that we can stay abreast of the latest developments in travel medicine and safe travel and give you the most current education to help you make an informed decision regarding your health.
Yellow Fever Strikes Brazil
On January 15, 2008, the Brazilian Ministry of Health confirmed three more deaths from yellow fever (YF): two in Goias and one in Parana, bringing the total of confirmed cases of YF in 2008 to six, with five deaths. Their are still fifteen suspected cases under investigation. This is more than any year since 2003, when there were sixty four cases with twenty-three deaths.
One of the fatal cases was an unvaccinated Spanish visitor, who died after two days in a hospital in Goiania on January 12, having been ill for about ten days in the city where the vector mosquito was found. The area has been fogged with insecticide. The man contracted his infection at a farm in Cristianopolis, 103 km (64 mi) from Goiania, where he had spent fifteen days. In an earlier report, his widow complained to the press that they saw no YF warning or proof of vaccination check at Sao Paulo international airport on their arrival on Novemner 25, nor at Salvador or Goiania airports on their travels since.
The Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, which produces YF vaccine, has suspended all exports of the vaccine, and is doubling its production from 15 to 30 million doses this year (2008). It normally supplies 7 million doses to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) for distribution to other countries in the Americas.
On January 10, the US Department of State issued an alert, in English, to all its citizens in Brazil, advising them to get vaccinated. It is recommended that all international travelers receive the Yellow Fever vaccination prior to arrival in Brazil.
"Yellow Fever Strikes Brazil." ProMed. http://www.promed.com. 17 Jan 2008.