College is the time to learn, experience, and explore, and studying abroad offers a perfect opportunity for this personal growth. According to a recent study, studying overseas also provides a great return on investment when looking for a job after college. But, if you are planning on going overseas, what can you do to prepare and have the best possible experience?

Research Your Destination

There are literally thousands of options when it comes to studying abroad. Do plenty of research in advance to find out what interests you most and what your university might already offer. Remember, even if your university does not have a set program that seems ideal to you, you may be able to work with a third party study abroad coordinator to find the overseas program that is the perfect fit. Don’t be afraid to do something outside of your comfort zone; in the worst case scenario, remember that learning what you do not want to do is a very useful life experience as well.

Make Sure You Have Your Passport and Visa

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Cervical cancer is responsible for more than 270,000 deaths around the world every year with the vast majority of cases taking place in the developing world. By and large, this cancer is a preventable disease and the World Health Organization has released new guidelines in hopes of dropping the infection rate and saving lives.

The main elements of the WHO’s plan are: vaccinate 9 to 13-year-old girls with two doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine; use HPV tests to screen for cervical cancer; and establish better communication between patients, doctors, and other professionals.

Girls in more than 55 countries are being protected by measures like the HPV vaccine, including a growing number of women in low and middle income countries who are now gaining access to the vaccination. According to the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control, receiving the vaccination is the best way to prevent HPV and its related complications. This does not discount the need for screening, however, which should still be done at least once every five to ten years.

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The Food and Drug Administration, alongside the Centers for Disease Control, announced an outbreak of listeriosis caused by prepackaged caramel apples. So far, this outbreak has led to 31 hospitalizations, seven deaths, and three cases of meningitis.

Meningitis is a potentially deadly disease that can be caused by bacterial infections like listeria, but it is generally preventable through vaccination. Completing the recommended vaccine schedule, for both children and adults, will typically provide an individual with the necessary immunity to avoid meningitis if exposed to listeriosis or other infections that can lead to bacterial meningitis.

“Listeriosis is a generally rare but serious illness,” said Melanie Kohr, RN, Vice-President of Clinic Operations for Passport Health. “In some cases, it can develop into meningitis, especially in the young and the immunocompromised, but those most at risk are in the unvaccinated population. This situation is not entirely unlike what we saw in Disneyland; although this disease is nowhere near as contagious, it can still cause some serious problems.”

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One person is diagnosed with tuberculosis about every three seconds. Of these people, one sixth of them will die from the disease. However, Medecins Sans Frontieres (also known as Doctors Without Borders) hopes to decrease this startling statistic with the help of drones.

In rural areas in many developing countries, like such areas in Papua New Guinea, getting a diagnosis for any disease, especially one that requires testing, can be extremely difficult. In a developed nation, getting a diagnosis can be as simple as taking a 20 minute trip to the doctor and then waiting for a phone call, but in rural, developing regions, getting a diagnosis is a laborious task that can require days of travel to transport the specimen and then days more to return with the proper medication. In an effort to ease this process, Matternet, a California based technology company, has been working with MSF and other groups to link clinics with testing centers by using battery operated unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV).

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Since the year 2000, the number of global measles cases has dropped 67%, with under 300,000 cases reported worldwide in 2013. This is a huge step forward for measles elimination, and a new method of vaccine delivery could reduce the number of cases even further.

This new method involves inhaling the vaccine.

For years, the measles vaccine has been delivered via a process similar to how children get ‘astronaut ice cream:’ the freeze drying process. The vaccine is first frozen and then put into a low-pressure environment which allows the frozen solid vaccine to transition directing into a gas (called sublimation). What remains is a vaccine ‘powder’.

This powder can then be sent around the world. With the addition of water, the measles vaccine can then be created. While turning vaccine into powder is a great process for transfer, there is one drawback. Once reconstituted, the vaccine will only last about one hour before it loses its potency. This is a serious problem in developing regions of the world where individuals may have to travel long distances for care.

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