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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Although the holiday season is largely regarded as over, early January still has one holiday that is very important for many: the birthday celebration of The Prophet Muhammad. Muhammad ibn Abdullah Al-Arabia was the founder of Islam, and he wrote the Islamic holy book, The Quran. The tradition of celebrating his life and work in early January goes back centuries but is not without some minor controversies.

While historic records vary, Mawlid, also called Muled, Mawlud or Milad and generally meaning ‘Birth of The Prophet’, is celebrated on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar that usually falls between late December and mid-January, depending on the year. However, not every country celebrates his birth, and fewer do it in the same way. Most Sunni and Shia scholars approve of the holiday, but the Wahhabis (mostly located in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE) oppose the celebration.

In the areas of the world where The Prophet’s birth is celebrated, a festive atmosphere abounds, especially in Pakistan. Throughout the nation, festivities will begin on the evening of January 2nd and continue through the 3rd. Known in Pakistan by its Urdu name, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the celebration features 21-gun salutes at dawn, massive processions, cinemas showing religious films, and buildings being illuminated by lights (similar to India’s Diwali celebrations). Certainly, there are plenty of awe-inspiring sights to behold.

In other countries like Indonesia, the celebration of Mawlid al-nabi is treated as one of the most important holidays of the year, with a week long celebration to honor all that The Prophet did. Even countries that are not predominantly Muslim have fairly large celebrations including India and Kenya where night-long prayers and large celebrations are known to take place.

If you do decide to travel to one of these festivities throughout the world, be sure to check ahead of time on when the holiday will be taking place that year (due to the lunar calendar, it changes every year) and what you will need to do in terms of visa, vaccination or other pre-travel concerns.

Depending on the trip you are planning, you may need speciality vaccinations, such as a Yellow Fever vaccine or polio booster, so be sure to check with your Passport Health Travel Specialist to find out what exactly you will need.

Would you like to see the sights and sounds of Mawlid Un Nabi? Which country would you like to visit to see it? Comment below or on our Facebook page and let us know!

What better day than New Year’s Day to get your travel planning for 2015 underway and to perhaps consider taking a special trip to ring in the next New Year in an exotic destination. Indeed, the best way to make sure you get the most out of your experience is to start planning for next year now. Below are some of the top places to travel throughout the globe (starting east and moving west), with tips to keep you safe and enjoying the festivities, for your New Year’s Eve travels next year.

Sydney, Australia

If you would like to ring in the New Year in a big way, then Sydney is your best bet. The first major city in the world to celebrate the New Year holds two fireworks shows, one at 9pm and one at 12am. Both displays are extensive and will make for memorable parts of what is sure to be an amazing trip. Remember that Hepatitis vaccines are suggested for travel to Australia as can be the yellow fever and japanese encephalitis vaccines, especially if you are planning an extended stay.

Hong Kong, China

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