Passport Health | Travel Health and Immunization Blog

Uber and Passport Health Delivering Flu Shots Across the Country

November 19, 2015 by Will Sowards Leave a Comment

Uber, flu shots and Passport Health combine once again to bring immunizations to people in 36 cities throughout the United States.

Influenza affects up to 20 percent of people every year and harms individuals, families and the economy at large. But, Uber and Passport Health are teaming up to help you stay FluFree.

Today, Passport Health and Uber will be delivering shots to the following cities:

Northeast: Baltimore; Boston; Hartford, Conn.; Hoboken, N.J.; Jersey City, N.J.; New York; Philadelphia; Providence, R.I..; Washington, Worcester, Mass.

South: Atlanta; Charleston, S.C.; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas; Houston; Nashville, Tenn.; New Orleans; Orlando; Raleigh/Durham, N.C.; Richmond; Tampa Bay, Fla.

Midwest: Columbus, Ohio; Des Moines, Iowa; Detroit; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Indianapolis; Kansas City, Mo.; Milwaukee; Pittsburgh

West: Boise, Idaho; Los Angeles; Orange County, Calif.; Phoenix; Portland, Ore.; San Francisco, Seattle.

For just $10, individuals that request UberHEALTH through their Uber app will receive:

A wellness pack which includes a UberHEALTH water bottle, tissues, hand sanitizer, lollipop and recyclable UberHEALTH tote along with the ability to get a flu shot from a Passport Health nurse.
Maximum of one wellness pack & ten free flu shots per request.

“Flu shots are often our best line of defense against this nasty bug,” said Vicki Sowards, Director of Nursing Resources for Passport Health. “The Uber-Passport Health partnership is key to raising awareness of the importance of influenza vaccination and help protect even more people against this potentially deadly disease.”

To learn out more about how to participate in this program see Uber’s helpful blog post.

Already received your flu shot from the UberHEALTH program? Share your photos or stories below, on Facebook or via Twitter.

How the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic Links to World War I

November 11, 2015 by Will Sowards 1 Comment

Fort Riley during 1918 influenza pandemic

Imagine sending your daughter off to school, but she never comes home. That is what happened to Grace Nye, a mother from Toppenish, Washington, in October of 1918. A letter to her from her daughter’s headmaster reads as follows:

“Absolutely everything possible was done in the way of medical care and nursing. The sick was never left alone for one minute, someone was administering to their needs and looking after them and I want you to feel that in this sickness that your daughter has had as good attention as she possibly could have had in any hospital or home.”

[Read more…]

How to Avoid Typhoid Fever

November 6, 2015 by Will Sowards 8 Comments

Key Takeaways:

Typhoid fever spreads through consuming contaminated food or water.
More than 21.5 million people worldwide contract typhoid fever every year.
Typhoid is most common in areas where sanitation is poor.
The typhoid vaccine comes in either oral or injectable form.
Get vaccinated against typhoid fever.

Typhoid fever is quite common in developing countries and areas with poor sanitation standards. The widespread nature of the disease requires taking special precautions. The best protection against typhoid is vaccination and avoiding risky foods or drinks.

Typhoid is a serious illness caused by the Salmonella typhi bacteria. The bacterium passes from person-to-person through the consumption of contaminated food or water. Typhoid is so widespread that more than 21.5 million people worldwide fall ill annually, according to the World Health Organization.

The typhoid bacterium lives in human intestinal tracts and bloodstreams. It is only carried by humans, and it spreads through the feces of carriers or people who are ill with the disease. It is often spread when sewage contaminates drinking water or water used for washing food. As a result, typhoid is common in areas where sanitation is poor.

Infections tend to develop over time, starting about three weeks after exposure. Symptoms include high fever, weakness, stomach pains, headaches, loss of appetite, diarrhea or constipation. Some patients will develop a flat, rose-colored rash. If the disease goes untreated, death can result.

The typhoid vaccine is available in oral and injectable form. Full immunity can take up to two weeks to develop. Get the vaccine in advance of your departure and potential exposure to the bacteria. Vaccination is a key line of defense, but avoiding risky drinks and food is also important.

Although the disease is treatable with antibiotics, drug-resistant strains make treatment difficult. These variants of typhoid fever thrive in Asia, Africa and other parts of the world. They are typically resistant to first-line antibiotics but are preventable through vaccination.

Before traveling to a typhoid hotspot, schedule an appointment with a Passport Health travel health specialist. This appointment provides complete education about vaccination options and safety tips to avoid typhoid.

How Can I Avoid Typhoid?

The first step to avoiding typhoid is receiving the typhoid vaccine. Beyond that, here are a few tips to help you avoid the disease:

If you must use local water, be sure to boil or otherwise purify it. Purification tablets and filters are available at all Passport Health travel clinic locations.

Drink sealed, bottled water from a reputable source, and avoid brands you do not recognize.

Remember to only use ice that made from bottled or boiled water. Avoid popsicles or flavored ice.

Ensure all food is cooked thoroughly and served steaming hot.

Avoid all fruits and vegetables that you have not peeled yourself.

Avoid food and drinks from street vendors.

Frequent hand washing is always a good strategy to prevent disease.

Typhoid is a fairly common infection among international travelers. If you return from a trip and fall ill, visit a health care provider immediately. Be sure to supply him or her with a complete itinerary of your trip.

To learn more about typhoid fever, visit our typhoid vaccination portal.

Planning a trip to the Caribbean, Africa or another region with typhoid? Make an appointment at your local Passport Health clinic by calling or booking online today.

Why Should I Visit A Travel Clinic?

November 2, 2015 by Will Sowards 7 Comments

The Singapore Ministry of Health recently announced the second death from dengue fever this year in the country. Singapore, which has been known to have outbreaks of the mosquito-borne virus, noted this important fact in this report: both deaths were individuals visiting the country from abroad. Although the ministry is still trying to determine where the second patient contracted the disease, the first patient was living in a known dengue-infected area.

Unfortunately, dengue fever is fairly difficult to prevent in comparison to rabies, yellow fever or even influenza. The disease is spread by mosquitoes, but there is no vaccination against it, with the best protection coming in the form of mosquito repellents. However, regardless of the existence (or not) of a vaccine, both of these cases serve to show the importance of travel medicine for all individuals. Travel medicine is about more than just vaccines; be sure to visit a travel health specialist before any trip, whether vaccines are required or not, to make sure you are armed with the best strategies for staying healthy and safe.

Why Should I Visit A Travel Clinic?

Visiting a travel clinic isn’t just something we believe you should do. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highly recommends visiting a travel clinic before you leave the country, especially if traveling to an area where infectious diseases are present. There are a few key reason for this guidance:

Getting sick on your trip can be expensive for you and potentially others if you need to be airlifted or otherwise removed from the country.
If you get sick, you could pose a threat to yourself, other travelers and locals.
Bringing back an infection with you could endanger the health of your friends, family, coworkers and community members.
Falling ill while abroad isn’t fun, and the CDC as well as other medical professionals would like you to enjoy your trip while keeping yourself and others safe.

In addition to these points, many countries require certain vaccinations, such as the yellow fever vaccine, in order to enter the country. Just as a passport and visa may be required to enter certain countries, some nations require proof of your immunizations in order to protect the health of their people. If you don’t have proof of vaccination, you may be required to return home at your own expense, just as you would without a visa.

Visiting a travel clinic before you leave can help alleviate all of these issues and help you stay safe and happy while traveling.

Why Do I Need Travel Vaccines?

Travel vaccines, and vaccination in general, are typically the best form of protection against diseases. Smallpox, polio, rubella and other infections have either been eradicated or nearly eradicated with the help of safe and effective vaccines in the U.S. As a result, some diseases may not exist where you live, and you may have never been vaccinated against them. Consider this:

Japanese encephalitis is an Asian tropical disease spread by mosquitoes, but it does not exist in North America. Because it is mosquito-borne, a person can become infected without even realizing they’ve been exposed.
The majority of measles outbreaks in the U.S. over the last decade have started when an unvaccinated traveler visited a region where the disease was present and carried it back to their community.
Falling ill during your trip can cost as much as $1,000 per day, and many of the most common travel illnesses are preventable through vaccination or other medical means.

Your travel vaccination needs will vary depending on where you are going, making it important to consult with a travel health specialist, like at your nearest Passport Health, about what is best for you during your trip.

How Can I Stay Health Before, During and After My Trip?

Visiting a travel medicine clinic is the first step in assuring good health while traveling. Follow this list of important tips to learn some of the key things you can do:

Visit a travel health clinic to learn about what risks you may face overseas.
Receive any travel vaccinations you may require.
Be sure to have any other travel medicine supplies you may need such as antimalarials, a traveler’s diarrhea kit and mosquito repellents.
Take proper precautions while traveling such as washing your hands regularly and avoiding street foods.
Follow the instructions you have received for your travel supplies including applying mosquito repellents or sunscreen regularly, taking antimalarial pills or following water sanitation protocols.
Remember to receive any booster shots you may need after your trip.

If you have any further questions or require assistance with your travel medicine needs, please see our travel vaccinations page or contact a Passport Health Travel Specialist today by calling or booking your appointment online today.

What are your best travel health tips? Let us know in the comments below, on Twitter or through our Facebook page.

Do I Need A Passport For My Cruise?

October 29, 2015 by Will Sowards 1 Comment

Whether it is an exotic adventure through the Panama Canal or a relaxing trip up the New England coast to see the colors change, cruises are a popular way of traveling throughout the world. But, many individuals are being forced to go home before they even get on the boat because they don’t have a passport. This may seem odd, especially considering that many cruises only stop at one international port, but a little known law from the late 19th century has made a passport practically necessary for even the most routine cruise.

In 1886, the Passenger Vessel Services Act was passed by Congress requiring that all foreign-flagged vessels (meaning ships constructed outside the U.S., as most cruise ships are) visit one foreign port before they can return to their port of origin. For example, an Alaskan cruise may leave Seattle, go to Juno and Skagway, Alaska, but it would have to visit Vancouver, Canada, before docking back in Washington.

The reasons behind the 1886 act are fairly complicated, but what it means is that all cruise travelers should have a passport before embarking, even if they don’t plan on going ashore in a foreign country. Previous to 2009, a birth certificate or other form of government-issued I.D. was sufficient, but changes to travel regulations have made passports a necessity. In fact, many cruise lines will not even allow you to board the ship if you do not have a passport (and in some cases a visa).

If you are planning a cruise vacation, be sure to have your passport before you go. Passport Health now offers passport and visa expediting services to help you organize all of the documents you may need for your trip. On average, getting a new passport takes four to six weeks, but expediting services can get the passport back to you in as little time as one to three business days.

To learn more about what you will need for your passport application, see our passport requirements page. Or, if you are ready to begin your application, contact us today.

Have you had any experiences with cruises and passports? Let us know on Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below.