Highly contagious and transmitted between people, a measles outbreak is nothing to take lightly. That’s why many are worried about Europe’s rapid rise in measles cases over the last year.

In 2016, there were over 5,200 cases reported; but the World Health Organization said that in 2017, there have been over 21,000 measles cases throughout Europe. During that span, 15 European countries confirmed they had about 100 people who became ill with the disease.

Some of the countries with the greatest rise in cases include Italy, Ukraine and Romania.

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One of the most fulfilling ways to learn about a country is through its food.

Cuisine often represents the core of a nation. Locals tend to show extra with pride in national dishes, creating unique treats with their own special touches.

The cuisine may even inform your entire decision to travel. A love for Thai or Italian cook has driven many travelers to visit those respective countries.

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In serious situations, or left untreated, yellow fever can become a nightmare disease. Besides the notable jaundice that it cause, the disease can quickly cause organ problems and bleeding throughout the body. Unsurprisingly, all these symptoms can lead to death.

To make things worse, the mosquito-borne illness is hard to diagnose. It’s often confused with other diseases and can go without confirmation until it’s too late. Once a person is bitten and has the virus in their system, they are not contagious to other people, but since yellow fever mimics other illnesses, it’s often overlooked.

So, when an there’s risk of a yellow fever outbreak, local governments must take it seriously. This happened in 2017, when Brazil dealt with a yellow fever outbreak that spread throughout it’s biggest cities.

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Puerto Rico, Aruba, Jamaica, the Bahamas. These are often the first islands to be considered when planning a Caribbean vacation.

All are easily accessible, provide plenty of relaxation, and long stretches of beaches perfect for a getaway. But, did you know there are 7,000 individual islands in the Caribbean, with 28 island nations having developed popular tourism?

Instead of heading straight for the go-to destinations in the ocean, take a closer look at the smaller islands. You’ll notice that they may get less attention, but are still radiant and available to visit.

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Cape Town is more than a top-tier tourism destination. It is South Africa’s largest city and home to over 3.4 million people.

But, those millions of residents and visitors have gone without rain for the last three years. Due to the drought and other plumbing issues throughout the city, South Africa’s gem will soon be out of water.

This can pose quite a blow to a city that relies heavily on tourism.

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