Passport Health | Travel Health and Immunization Blog

PPH and Project C.U.R.E – What Will Your Journey Be?

March 9, 2015 by Will Sowards 1 Comment

Why do you travel? Pleasure and business are common reasons to take a trip, but one, perhaps less familiar, type of travel has become increasingly popular. Mission trips and other types of “PhilanthroTravel” are occurring with increasing frequency as people work to give back while they see the world. Recently, Passport Health teamed up with Project CURE, the largest provider of donated medical supplies in the world, to deliver lifesaving supplies to a hospital in Panama.

In the videos below, you’ll see interviews and highlights of this trip to Panama that Passport Health was fortunate enough to help with. During this mission to the Central American country, volunteers delivered a cargo container of medical supplies to a hospital in need to help the local people.

Remember, a key part of any travel to any region is keeping yourself safe and healthy before, during and after your trip. Let Passport Health be a part of your journey; schedule an appointment at a Passport Health travel clinic before leaving on your trip so that we can help you stay healthy with proper vaccination, medications and health advice. Taking care of your health is important so that you are best able to help others!

Just one question remains: What will your journey be?

New Ebola Test Is Faster Than Ever, Major Change for Disease Diagnosis

March 6, 2015 by Will Sowards Leave a Comment

Ebola and other tropical diseases pose a major threat to populations worldwide, especially when it comes to diagnosing the infection. Current diagnostic tools can take days to identify whether someone has an infection, but a new test created by a group of Massachusetts Institute of Technology researchers could change that.

The device consists largely of a paper strip, and it can identify Ebola fevers within minutes. Unlike other tests, like those that can identify only a single condition like pregnancy or strep, this one is capable of diagnosing more than just the virulent West African disease. Research published in an MIT study shows that it is capable of also identifying yellow fever, dengue fever and other viral hemorrhagic diseases.

[Read more…]

New vaccine could end fight against polio

March 3, 2015 by Cait Hartwyk Leave a Comment

A new vaccine that is under development might just end the fight against polio and some other infectious diseases. In an effort funded by more than $600,000 in grant money from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, researchers hope to create a synthetic polio vaccine that minimizes the probability of side effects that the oral vaccine can sometimes have.

The team of England-based researchers hopes to create a vaccine that protects against polio but does not include the live virus that oral and dermal polio vaccines contain. This type of vaccine is safer for use in developing countries, faster acting and easier to produce, making it ideal for use in countries like Pakistan and Nigeria where the disease is still endemic.

[Read more…]

How Can I Protect Myself Against Rubella?

March 2, 2015 by Will Sowards Leave a Comment

Measles and mumps have both been top news items lately with headlines talking about outbreaks across North America. According to the Centers for Disease Control in the United States and multiple other organizations, the best way of preventing these diseases is through vaccination, typically with an MMR shot. This shot protects against measles, mumps and rubella. Rubella is a similar disease that has gone generally unnoticed during the last few months of outbreak, so we aim to provide additional information about rubella here.

Rubella, sometimes called German measles, is a contagious disease that causes rash, fever, aching joints, and sometimes much more serious complications as well. The disease is perhaps most perilous for pregnant mothers and their unborn children who can develop serious complications if they contract the disease.

The rubella vaccine is part of the CDC recommended MMR vaccination. This vaccine has been proven to be safe in multiple studies and is the best prevention against measles, mumps and rubella. For more information on the safety of the vaccine see the CDC MMR safety portal.

The CDC has stated that vaccinating pregnant mothers is, sadly, not an option when it comes to the MMR vaccine. Therefore, it is best to receive the vaccination before pregnancy, preferably at a younger age, and the CDC suggests the MMR vaccine be first given to people aged four to six-years.

[Read more…]

What Do I Need to Know about Traveling while Pregnant?

February 27, 2015 by Cait Hartwyk 1 Comment

Everyone loves to travel, but sometimes life events can get in the way. Work, school, and social commitments can make taking a vacation challenging. Family can also make travel challenging, especially for people who are just starting one. Many people believe that traveling is impossible while pregnant, but, by following a few simple tips (and talking with a physician, of course!) it can be just as fun while pregnant as it would be at any other time.

Traveling while pregnant is generally safe unless otherwise indicated by a physician. Before planning a trip during pregnancy, however, talk with your primary care doctors about what you will be doing and whether it is advisable to do so. A doctor may recommend changing travel plans slightly depending on your specific situation.

The second trimester of pregnancy is considered the best time for travel as morning sickness has generally ended and other related early risk factors are reduced. Some airlines do have rules regarding pregnant travel, and these are typically related to having medical approval before traveling during the ninth month.

[Read more…]