Imagine going to your doctor for what you thought would be a routine check-up only to be diagnosed with HIV. That is exactly what happened to a 74-year-old man in a Cambodian village last month. When the unidentified man’s test came back positive, he immediately spoke with family and friends and asked them to be tested as well. Within a few weeks, over 200 cases of HIV were diagnosed in the area, and the majority of these cases were connected to an unlicensed doctor in the town of Rhoka, where the 74-year-old and his family reside.

Since the discovery of the infections, the unlicensed doctor, identified by authorities as Yem Chrin, has been charged with murder and deliberately infecting individuals with HIV. Whether Chrin maliciously infected his patients is as yet unknown, but investigators have found evidence that the doctor re-used needles on multiple patients, leading to cross contamination and widespread infection.

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The measles cases in Disneyland (a crowded environment through which many people pass) have been extremely well documented by the media. Similarly, a recent CDC report shows the potential effects of one infected individual passing through an airport and the potential harm that vaccine preventable diseases can cause. This information is equally applicable to an airport, Disneyland, a grocery store, or a school. According to the CDC, in January, 2014, an individual with measles passed through an undisclosed airport, and, within a four-hour span, he or she infected three other people.

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Workplaces can pose all kinds of hazards, especially to those individuals who work in environments where exposure to various diseases is heightened. Healthcare, farming, oil drilling and food handling jobs are just some of the professions and industries in which additional health risks exist that typically do not affect the average person. As a result, it is extremely important that workers in these fields be vaccinated against a variety of diseases.

Below are five vaccines that are most needed by the individuals in these higher risk jobs to help ensure protection against what could otherwise be deadly infections.

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During January, Cervical Health Awareness Month, we have reviewed a range of cervical health issues, including the new vaccine from Merck that will hopefully enter the market soon. Recently, studies have been released showing how safe the current HPV vaccine is, and this safety is likely to extend to the new vaccine as well. In our last post for Cervical Health Awareness Month, let’s consider what these studies mean for you and your family.

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Wellness programs are becoming increasingly common among companies of all types and sizes. Simple blood tests and some basic health tips based on potential risk zones can do a lot to help employees, and employers, stay happy and feeling well throughout the year and during the crunch times in which good health is even more important. Passport Health offers wellness services that help employees understand how to maintain a healthy lifestyle based on their unique situations.

Biometric health screenings are not time intensive and provide key baseline measures for any corporate health initiative. These screenings involve a short visit with registered health professionals who will check vitals, record BMI, administer basic blood tests, and provide easy to understand advice on what the individual can do in order to maintain and improve his or her health.

How does a biometric event work? It is simple! Everything is brought to the workplace, to make the screening as convenient as possible for employees. Employees are even able to pre-register for a time slot for the screening well in advance of the event to minimize time away from work. Passport Health even provides flyers for posting around the facility and email templates to remind everyone about the benefits that come with a wellness check. Here is a bit more detail on what to expect at a biometric screening event at your workplace.

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