Mosquito-borne diseases often aren’t a problem in North America. Zika, malaria and Japanese encephalitis are so rare that they earn headlines any time a case is confirmed.
But, during mosquito season, this isn’t how we treat West Nile virus.
The virus may not cause an epidemic in the United States, but during the summer many areas report cases of West Nile. When testing the mosquitoes, every corner of the country has shown some risk of West Nile.
Even beyond the relaxation and sightseeing, we may look forward to a vacation mostly for the food. If you’re traveling to a place known for their local cuisine, that hunger may get even stronger. Travelers might not even think twice before trying a food truck or tasting treats in a marketplace.
But, those careless or unlucky foreign travelers may also know that food poisoning poses a major risk.
Food poisoning occurs when someone consumes food that’s contaminated with dangerous bacteria. It could be a minuscule virus or parasite, but that food becomes a vessel for illness.
Certain countries in the Middle East have long dealt with a lack of food security. The immense conflict and import dependence in the region means that this problem is now growing.
Undernourishment, malnutrition and anemia are consistent issues in the Middle East. Millions have to deal with the harsh realities of unsustainable farming and famine.
In general, food insecurity isn’t a new development for the Middle East. But it could grow even worse if steps aren’t taken to change agricultural policies with the health needs of the people. Coverage in The Lancet of the joint OECD-FAO (the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization) Agricultural Outlook 2018-2027 report highlights the problem.
Traveling should be an exciting adventure – a lack of knowledge of the local language shouldn’t fill you with dread.
You may not have time to understand the customs and speech of an entire country before you go, but following the tips below should be enough to get you through your visit.
News spread in spring 2018 about Pakistan’s immense typhoid outbreak.
Now, that epidemic is only getting worse.
The outbreak grew thanks to a resistance to antibiotics shown by the strain of typhoid. More infrastructure problems only worsened the problem, with at least 2,000 people infected.
