Russia’s been center stage in the news for political and social issues, and now it seems Russia has the potential to cause widespread smallpox and anthrax outbreaks.

This summer, a town in eastern Russia saw an outbreak of anthrax, which, according to TIME, was the first outbreak Russia’s seen in 75 years.

Experts suspect that climate change is contributing to the possibility of these outbreaks.

As temperatures increase in Russia, specifically in the Siberian regions, the ground thaws. This creates a problem because Russians buried their dead under the frozen ground. As the ground thaws, the bodies become exposed and carry potential diseases.

If smallpox and anthrax were to resurface in Russia, it wouldn’t take much for the diseases to spread. Though Russia is across the ocean and then some, those diseases are highly contagious and spread quickly. Water and land aren’t barriers to anthrax and smallpox like they may have been in the past.

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The weather is getting cooler, the holidays are coming up and there’s televised football almost every day of the week. The late part of the year is rich in annual traditions to enjoy, although not all these certainties are fun.

Specifically, the dreaded flu season.

Flu season is an uncertain date. The timetable for peak diagnoses varying from October in some years, to April and May in others. But, flu season is getting closer and time is running out to take early action against the disease with an annual flu shot.

There are several myths surrounding flu shots. But, don’t worry, the shot will not make you sick with the disease or give you a deadly amount of mercury.

What the flu shot will do, is focus on and prevent the spread of the many influenza types each year.

What Ingredients Are In the Flu Vaccine?

This year’s common quadrivalent flu shot contains the following ingredients:

• Flu Strain A/Brisbane/02/2018 (H1N1)
• Flu Strain A/Kansas/14/2017 (H3N2)
• Flu Strain B/Colorado/06/2017
• Flu Strain B/Phuket/3073/2013
• Formaldehyde
• Aluminum Salts
• Gelatin
• MSG
• Thimerosal
• Chicken Egg Proteins
• Antibiotics

Why Is Formaldehyde In the Flu Shot?

This compound is the reason that it’s a myth that you can get sick from a flu shot. Like many vaccines, a flu shot does contain the virus that it is preventing. That’s where formaldehyde comes in, to deactivate the virus and prevent the toxins from causing illness.

In large doses, formaldehyde is toxic and deadly. In order for a human to receive a lethal amount of formaldehyde from a flu shot, they would need to take over 10 million doses in a day. This is due to the molecule’s dilution during the manufacturing process and tiny amount that is present in each shot.

Why Are Aluminum Salts In the Flu Vaccine?

Aluminum is another common part in all vaccines. It is an adjuvant to help build the body’s resistance against the disease. Adjuvants are also active in preventing sickness from the disease after receiving the shot. Aluminum is the most used adjuvant in vaccines for over 80 years.

Like all the ingredients in a flu shot, aluminum’s dose is incredibly small, so small that it’s more present in your drinking water.

What Is Gelatin Doing In a Flu Shot?

Gelatin serves a simple purpose in a flu shot: keep the vaccine effective between manufacturing and use.

For those that are against consumption of animal products or have an allergy to pork, this ingredient may be an issue. Most flu vaccines use a pig-based collagen as their stabilizer.

But, for anyone with no problem eating candy or marshmallows, both of which use pig-based gelatin, the amount in a flu vaccine won’t be an issue.

Why Do Some Flu Vaccines Contain MSG?

Usually an ingredient you’d find in processed foods, the additive MSG (monosodium glutamate) is also found in some flu vaccines administered via a spray. The substance, along with other sugars, does the exact same job as gelatin.

Once the vaccine is produced, it can lose potency and effectiveness before it’s administered to a person. That’s what stabilizers like MSG and sucrose can prevent.

Much like other ingredients on this list, the amount of MSG and other additives in the flu shot is very small. Although it may not be part of the healthiest diet, the human body is safe to take 6,000mg/kg of MSG every day. That amount far exceeds the minimal amount found in some vaccines.

Why Is Thimerosal Part of the Flu Vaccine?

Thimerosal is not active in all flu vaccines, but is fairly common. This compound keeps bacteria and fungi from growing in the vaccine which can otherwise happen when a syringe is in a vial.

Thimerosal does have an ethylmercury base. This is not the same common mercury that can cause illness in large doses. Methylmercury, the mercury found in seafood, can stay in the body for years. Ethylmercury stays in the blood for far less time, often just a few days, and is safe for vaccines.

Still unsure if we should use thimerosal in the flu shot? Take a look at our blog post breaking down the chemical and its history with vaccines.

What Purpose Do Chicken Egg Proteins Serve In a Flu Shot?

The virus needs somewhere to grow before it’s in the vaccine, and that’s where eggs can be useful.

For most flu vaccines, the virus copies itself while in fertilized chicken eggs. It’s then separated from the egg and is ready for vaccination.

Sometimes egg protein remains in the virus after the process. This may also be a problem for those against animal consumption.

Recent studies show the flu shot is usually safe for those with egg allergies. Be sure to note your condition to a medical professional before receiving your vaccine.

Why Are Antibiotics In The Flu Shot?

The running theme for these ingredients is to keep you from getting sick, and antibiotics are no different.

The antibiotics in a flu shot keep bacteria from getting in the eggs, which aren’t sterile. To avoid allergic reactions, ones that can cause severe reactions, like penicillin, are not used. Instead, neomycin, often found in lotions and ointments, is the main antibiotic.

To learn more about influenza and the flu vaccine, check out our influenza page.

Would you like to have a flu clinic in your workplace? See our onsite flu clinic page to learn more about our options.

Have any more flu questions? Let us know in the comments below, on Facebook or via Twitter. Your comment may turn into our next post!

Zika has shed a stark light on prenatal disease prevention. But, there are lessons for everyone, regardless of your family planning stage.

The virus is a reminder that caring for your health can have a huge impact on the wellbeing of those around you. Failure to do so can contribute to the unforeseen long-term impacts of Zika. 

Check out these three ways you can boost your immunity at home and abroad, and prepare yourself to face of Zika and other illnesses.

1.    Stay Up-to-Date

Refer to trusted sources for up-to-date guidelines about current diseases and infections. Organizations like the World Health Organization, CDC and Passport Health offer advice for specific regions. This includes guidelines for pregnant or expecting women, vaccination information and more. 

Health situations are fluid, especially in the developing world.  It’s important to regularly check these sources for new information.

Vaccinations are often recommended for travel to countries throughout the world. Some of the most common travel vaccines are:

• Typhoid
• Hepatitis A
• Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)

Make sure you have all the vaccinations you may need before traveling. Passport Health can help you decide what vaccines are right for you. Learn more about these and other vaccines on our vaccinations page.

2.     Use Safe Products

Only use CDC-verified products. Be especially careful when choosing safe products for expecting moms. Just because a product is advertised as safe does not mean it is right for everyone. Read product labels and reviews to identify ingredients that aren’t safe for your needs. 

If you’re preparing to travel, pack your own toiletries. This will save time and money. You’ll also avoid the risk of unavailability or navigating labels in foreign languages.

Maintaining a healthy, nutritional diet can boost immunity while at home and abroad. It’s important to avoid processed and undercooked foods and take plenty of vitamins and minerals. If you’re traveling, you can bring vitamin supplements with you. 

Most importantly, know whether it is safe to drink tap water in your local area. Contaminated water can lower your immunity or even infect your digestive system. Common waterborne infections include: e. coli, cholera, typhoid and Legionnaires’ disease. Only use water from safe sources like bottled or boiled water.

3.     Monitor the signs:

Become familiar with the symptoms of common diseases in your community and your destination. If you suspect that you or a family member is infected, seek out medical help. 

Some clinics lack the funding to administer tests for diseases like Zika. This is especially true in underserved communities. But, these clinics can refer patients to a testing facility or send blood samples to a local lab. 

The best way to take action is by preventing the disease before you become infected.

Contracting diseases can be scary, and navigating the situation alone can be intimidating. Family member, friend or health care worker can help you identify and act upon your needs. Awareness is the first step to prevention, but being proactive can make a world of difference. Sharing new information within your community helps others take action, and contributes to a healthy environment. 

Learn more about Zika and how you can avoid the disease on our Zika page.

Are you planning a trip to a Zika affected region? Schedule an appointment at your local Passport Health clinic today by calling or booking online now.

What have you done to avoid Zika? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below, on Twitter of via Facebook.

The Zika outbreak in Brazil couldn’t have come at a worse time. The virus scared many away from participating in and attending the games in Rio this year.

Where are these concerns coming from? Where did this disease come from? And, what do we have to be worried about?

What are the symptoms of Zika?

• Fever
• Rash
• Joint pain
• Conjunctivitis
• Muscle pain
• Headache

According to the Centers for Disease Control, “Zika is usually mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. People usually don’t get sick enough to go to the hospital, and they very rarely die of Zika. For this reason, many people might not realize they have been infected.”

Zika is a mosquito-born illness, similar especially to diseases like dengue fever and chikungunya.

The Aedes mosquito is the main vector for the virus. But, Zika can also spread through sexual interaction, blood transfusions, and mother-to-fetus connection.

Where Did Zika Come From?

The honest answer? Nobody really knows.

The Zika virus was named after the Ziika forest in Uganda, where scientists first (accidentally) identified the virus in 1947. The scientists were looking for yellow fever in rhesus monkeys. What they found was Zika. While first identified in 1947, the virus existed in many forests all over East and West Africa and Asia years before that.

No one knows where the virus itself came from – where the rhesus monkey caught it.

In 1952, scientists discovered the first human Zika cases in Uganda and Tanzania. The virus remained in these regions for 60 years after the initial discovery.

But, in 2007, a Zika oubreak occurred on the island of Yap, part of Micronesia in the Pacific Ocean. It was the first outbreak outside of Africa and Asia.

The Yap outbreak was bigger than most others – it presented a looming question. How did the virus get all the way over there?

How Did Zika Get To the Americas?

Between 2007 and 2015, the virus spread throughout various islands in the Pacific. These new outbreaks and raised new concerns, specifically microcephaly. Associated with Zika infection, this birth defect causes smaller than normal head size and other symptoms. Many researchers saw a connection between Zika and microcephaly, but had little definitive proof.

In 2015, outbreaks of a mysterious rash-causing illness began spreading through northeast Brazil. These reports soon moved throughout other parts of the country. Doctors tested for illnesses like dengue and measles before finally testing for Zika. Results came back positive.

During this time, researchers had a clearer connection between Zika and microcephaly. Other birth defects and symptoms are now connected with the disease. This includes Guillain-Barre syndrome and arthrogryposis.

While not very dangerous for most people, these discoveries showed fetuses are at risk. If a pregnant woman become infected, serious birth defects could occur.

Where Can we Go from Here?

Zika virus has been labeled a “public health emergency of international concern” by the World Health Organization. Its rapid spread, link to serious neurological conditions and other factors make Zika a serious concern.

Public health agencies recommend we take extra precautions to avoid Zika including:

• Preventing mosquito bites- Use CDC-approved insect repellents while traveling in affected areas.
• Practice safe sex- Be sure to use a condom to avoid sexually-transmitted Zika.
• Protecting others- If you think you may have contracted Zika, avoid areas where mosquitoes are present to help stop the virus from spreading.

Have you traveled to a country recently that’s got a history with Zika virus? Learn more about the Zika virus here.

Do you need to make an appointment with a Passport Health Specialist for other travel vaccinations? Schedule your appointment today by calling or booking online now.

Do you have questions about the origins of Zika? What are you tips for avoiding the virus? Let us know on Facebook or via Twitter!

Written for Passport Health by Adrienne St. Clair