Southeast Asia is one of the most popular destinations for overseas travel due to the region’s rich history, beautiful landscapes, and astounding cultural sites. Locations like the Taj Mahal, Mount Fuji and Angkor Wat are seen by millions every year, but traveling to this area can also pose a commonly overlooked health threat.

Over the last year, there has been a dramatic increase in Japanese encephalitis cases in Japan, India and other countries in Asia. The exact reason for this rise is unclear, but the solution, at least for travelers, is very simple: vaccination.

The Japanese encephalitis vaccine is available at all Passport Health clinics nationwide. However, many travelers chose to forego Japanese encephalitis vaccination. They (often mistakenly) don’t believe they will come in contact with the disease, or they do not think the vaccine is ‘worth it.’ Such thinking couldn’t be more wrong.

Just this week, six children in India were killed by Japanese encephalitis, and over 20 more tested positive in the Assam region. Other countries have had serious outbreaks as well, but India is quickly becoming a JE hotzone. Travelers to the region are strongly encouraged to receive a Japanese encephalitis vaccine.

Still, some may say, “Why do I need a Japanese encephalitis vaccine? I’m not traveling to an infected area,” or “I’ll only be there for a few days; I’ll be safe.” Such thinking, however, is ill-conceived. Because JE is a mosquito-borne illness, someone could conceivably become infected within hours of arriving at the destination. Vaccination is critical in preventing infection and the spread of the disease.

It takes at least 28 days to complete the Japanese encephalitis vaccine series and obtain full protection. Prepare before you go by visiting your local Passport Health clinic.

To learn more about Japanese encephalitis, see our JE portal.

Are you planning a trip to Asia? Tell us about it! Comment below, on our Facebook page or via Twitter.

A wildlife safari in Tanzania is an adventurer’s dream come true. Make sure you are well protected before your exotic adventure.

Five Tips for an Unbeatable Safari in Tanzania

A safari is often a once-in-a-lifetime adventure. Here are five tips on how you can have a smooth and enjoyable trip:

1. Since you will most likely be traveling with Tanzanian guides while on safari, you should try to learn a little bit of Kiswahili. It’s a nice gesture and shows that you respect the local culture and customs.
2. Always listen to your tour guide during the safari. If they say that it is not safe to leave the vehicle or the camping area, then don’t move until you have permission to do so. Never wander off by yourself. The guide is there to watch out for you; they have your best interests in mind.
3. Be sure to bring insect repellent and long-sleeved shirts and pants for dusk, when mosquitoes are the most active. This is to minimize your risk of contracting malaria.
4. Avoid drinking the tap water or water from lakes, rivers and streams. You could get very sick from this. Your guide will usually provide you with bottled water that is safe to drink.
5. Finally, you should schedule a pre-travel health consultation with a travel health specialist before you even set foot on the plane. You may need vaccinations for Tanzania in order to stay healthy during your journey.

What Vaccines Do I Need for Tanzania?

When you arrive for your appointment, the travel health specialist will examine you and look at your medical history. Their primary goal is to make sure that you are fit to travel. If you are, then they may suggest that you receive a number of recommended immunizations for Tanzania in addition to any routine vaccinations that need booster doses. Be sure to schedule your first appointment at least four weeks before you leave on your trip.

Most travelers should be vaccinated against typhoid as it can be spread through contaminated food and water. You could be sick for a very long time if you contract hepatitis A or typhoid. Receiving vaccinations for these diseases is definitely worth it.

You should also be vaccinated against hepatitis B and rabies, especially if you plan on going on safari. If you will be at risk of animal bites at any point during your trip, then the rabies vaccination could save your life.

You will also need a yellow fever vaccine. While the Center for Disease Control, or CDC, does not typically recommend receiving a yellow fever vaccine for travel to Tanzania, it is a good idea to get vaccinated if you will be staying in the country for a long period of time. You may need to provide proof of your yellow fever vaccination to the Tanzanian authorities if an outbreak has occurred and you have recently been traveling through endemic areas.

You should also consider bringing prescribed anti-malarial drugs with you on your trip as a prophylactic measure.

Don’t Wait – Make a Travel Health Appointment Today

If you need immunizations for your trip to Tanzania, don’t hesitate to get the travel health care you need from a specialist prior to your departure. Getting the vaccinations deemed necessary for a Tanzanian safari can mean the difference between seeing exotic animals and seeing the walls of a hospital from a hospital bed. Good luck, have fun and remember to purchase some travel insurance before you go.

Sources:
CDC Traveler Information Page for Tanzania
Travel Article Tips for Going on a Safari
Passport Health Page for Tanzania

You’ve planned your exotic trip abroad, and you know that a variety of pre-travel vaccinations may be necessary to keep you healthy and well during your travels.  Depending on your destination and itinerary, the Rabies Vaccine may be a crucial part of your pre-travel health regimen; this widespread disease can have serious, or even fatal, consequences.  Although rabies is preventable with a vaccination, over 55,000 people die each year from the disease, primarily in Africa and Asia where prevention and treatment are not widely available.  Be sure to take adequate precautions by visiting a Travel Health Specialist for individualized recommendations, but read on for disease and vaccine information and prevention strategies.

The Facts About Rabies

Rabies is a virus that is classified as a zoonotic disease. This means that the virus can be transferred from animals to humans. The virus is located in the saliva of infected animals and is typically transferred through a bite or scratch. Most humans who contract rabies are infected by a dog, but bats, skunks, foxes, raccoons, jackals, and other wild animals are also carriers of the disease.

It’s very important to receive treatment when bitten or scratched by an animal. Sometimes, rabies symptoms don’t show up for months, but, once they do, the disease is often fatal. Early symptoms of the disease may include a headache, fever, and weakness.  As the virus progresses, more serious symptoms develop. These symptoms can include anxiety, restlessness, trouble sleeping, confusion, hallucinations, difficulty swallowing, drooling, and agitation.

Preventing Rabies

Both pets and humans can be vaccinated against rabies. Pets can get their vaccinations from a veterinarian, and this method is a very cost-effective means of reducing disease transference. Unfortunately, however, pet vaccinations are typically not prevalent in the rural areas of many developing countries.  Therefore, if your travel plans include stops in rural villages, the pre-exposure vaccine may be a crucial one for you.

The rabies pre-exposure vaccine is available at all Passport Health travel clinics.  Note that even if you’re not traveling, this vaccine could be recommended for you if your job requires that you come into regular contact with animals, so animal handlers and veterinarians should be up-to-date on this vaccination.  The vaccine is  recommended for those who plan to travel in parts of the world where rabies is still prevalent, such as Asia, Africa, and many parts of Latin America. Travelers who will be spending a lot of time outdoors hiking, camping, and exploring should also be vaccinated.

The human rabies vaccine is given in three doses. The second dosage is administered seven days after the first. For those who are continually exposed to animals or the rabies virus, it’s recommended that they be tested occasionally for immunity to the disease and that a booster be given when it is needed.

Travelers to countries where rabies poses a health risk should take care to avoid infected animals.  Avoid any animal that is acting strangely, including domesticated pets. Outdoor travelers should take care to avoid wild animals.

Treatment for Rabies

In the event of an animal bite or scratch, immediate treatment is necessary to mitigate the possibility of disease onset. The wound needs to be thoroughly cleaned, and if a pre-exposure vaccine has never been received, then a post-exposure prophylaxis needs to be administered. The recommended first-aid procedure to clean the wound includes washing and flushing it for 15 minutes with water and soap, iodine, or any other substance that can kill the virus.

In summary, remember that rabies is a very serious disease carried by millions of animals all over the world. If the disease is spread to a human, it is usually fatal unless that person gets treatment. The risk of rabies would be greatly reduced if more pets received a rabies immunization, but such vaccines are largely unavailable or are viewed as too expensive in many developing countries.  Therefore, if your travels take you through the developing world, be sure to consider the rabies vaccination.

Since childhood, we have been immunized against a range of diseases to keep our bodies healthy and well.  However, it can be challenging to keep record of all of these vaccines throughout the years, especially as we move and change healthcare providers. No one wants to get an extra shot or pay for an immunization that is not necessary, and this is precisely where antibody titer testing comes in. A titer test is a measure of antibodies in the blood, providing a check of disease immunity. The results of a titer test then allow a clinician to determine whether a vaccination is required.

A titer test involves a simple blood draw. The sample is analyzed, and results are returned within 24 to 72 hours. All Passport Health clinics offer a full range of laboratory test services, including all antibody titer testing.

Perhaps you can’t remember for certain whether you had a case of a given disease in the past, have misplaced your immunization records over the years, or can’t get in touch with your Primary Care Provider to get your medical records.  A titer test, however, will give your clinician a measure of your immunity and solve these memory and record keeping problems. Therefore, titer testing and vaccinations go hand in hand.

Titer Testing: Cost Savings
Passport Health makes every effort to not re-vaccinate if vaccination is not, in fact, necessary by offering titer testing at all locations and to all patients. As a result, our experienced clinicians are able to save individual patients a significant amount of money by first checking immunity to Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Varicella, Rabies, and MMR, for example.

Moreover, a titer test is virtually no risk – it merely involves a simple blood draw with results available almost immediately.

Titer testing is similarly beneficial for Passport Health’s corporate clients. Cost savings are evident when comparing the cost of a titer test to the cost of vaccination. Titer testing is a crucial component of any vaccine credentialing program; call Passport Health today to learn how to integrate this service into your company’s wellness program!

Source:
https://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/antibody-titer/overview.html