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

The Zika virus has been a hotbutton topic throughout the year. With the virus raging in Puerto Rico and reaching the United States, many are worried. One question still remains, does catching the Zika virus also provide immunity? Or can you get it twice?

Can I Get Zika Twice?

According to early research, fighting off the infection provides immunity. How long this immunity lasts is still under investigation.

It’s scary enough to get Zika once. But, the prospect of becoming re-infected is terrifying. Especially when considering the impact the virus can have on unborn babies.

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison are testing this immunity. By observing how Zika affects macaque monkeys, they hope to better understand the virus.

Monkeys infected with Zika were disease-free after 14 days. They remained free even after being re-infected with a different strain 10 weeks later. This could mean that immunity develops after encountering the disease for the first time. Like humans develop an immunity to varicella following a case of chicken pox.

But, researchers did observe an extended duration of infection in pregnant macaques. There is no pattern for the length of the disease in pregnant macaques. They are the only group that had longer than average infections.

This has raised the question of whether the fetus can reintroduce the virus to the mother. It would explain why infection extends in pregnant macaques, and ends with the pregnancy.

Could Fetuses Spread the Virus?

A recent case report detailed this scenario playing out in a 33-year-old Finnish woman. The doctors saw the disease duration extend, and then end with the pregnancy.

Researchers are seeing if a mother can receive Zika if the only source is an infected fetus. This may provide some more evidence about whether the disease can be spread back from fetus to mother.

At this point, these are just observations in a preliminary study. While these discoveries are meaningful, they are not concrete findings. The sample sizes have been small, and the results have not been reliably repeated.

How Can I Stay Zika-free?

Preventing Zika infection can be tricky. The CDC and WHO recommend the following precautions:

Pack a strong mosquito repellent. Consider traveling with permethrin-treated mosquito nets or clothing.

Loose, long-sleeved shirts and pants provide great protection at night when mosquitoes are active.

Zika can be sexually transmitted, be sure to use condoms if there is a potential for Zika infection.

If you are of child-bearing age and might become pregnant, avoid travel to affected countries.

You can become infected with Zika at any point in your pregnancy. Avoid travel to all Zika-infected countries and areas.

If you feel that you may have become infected while traveling, seek medical attention. Take all necessary precautions when interacting with loved ones. Preventative measures are the most effective as there is no treatment for Zika.

Traveling to a Zika country? Speak with a travel health specialist before you leave. Schedule an appointment by calling or booking online!

Have you traveled to a Zika country? What was your experience and how did you protect yourself? Share it with us on Facebook or Twitter!

Lactose is a sugar found in milk and milk products. Under normal circumstances, our bodies digest lactose to promote cell growth in the body. But, lactose intolerance occurs when the body stops producing designed to break down lactose.

To people dealing with lactose intolerance, a glass of milk or bowl of ice cream can cause hours of digestive discomfort. Traveling with dietary restrictions can be challenging. But, it doesn’t have to be the deciding factor in your vacation if you follow these eight simple tips.

Understanding the local flavor

An important first step is researching the local cuisine. Learn which foods contain milk or milk products and in what amounts they appear. Be aware that many foods may not be familiar to you, and could contain lactose in a way you not accustomed to. Some countries have lactose-heavy diets (much of Western Europe, for example), while others rarely include those ingredients in their dishes (most Asian countries). Just like any vacation, understanding the area and the culture you are traveling to is key to having a safe and enjoyable experience.

Prepare for a Variety of Symptoms

Lactose intolerance symptoms range from mild digestive discomfort and bloating to diarrhea and dehydration. Recognizing the signs of a reaction to lactose is the first step to management.

Symptoms typically appear between 30 minutes and 2 hours after consumption. They can vary in length based on the amount of lactose consumed and the amount that the person can tolerate.

Packing well can help you avoid a reaction or frantic trips to foreign pharmacies. Products like rehydration salts can ease dehydration, while lactase can help you prevent symptoms.

Pack Lactase pills

Lactose intolerance come from on a lack of the enzyme lactase. You can add more lactase to your body by taking a lactase pill. These pills are widely available in the United States. They can help to lessen many of the symptoms of lactose intolerance.

If you only have a mild intolerance, these pills can often stop discomfort if taken ahead of time. Make sure to pack plenty of lactase pills, as more rural travel destinations may not have the pills.

Consume Small Amounts of Milk Before Departure

Slowly introducing milk or milk products into your diet before your trip. This can help train your body to handle the presence of lactose.

Building a tolerance starts with consuming anywhere from a ¼ to a ½ cup of milk with meals, two to three times a day for three to four weeks before you leave. This helps protect you from a reaction when you accidentally take in small amounts of lactose. But, everybody’s body and level of tolerance can differ. Be sure to contact your healthcare provider before starting this process.

Know Your Body

Dietary restrictions can vary from person-to-person. Beyond just the type of restriction, there are different levels of sensitivity as well.

For example, somebody with lactose intolerance may be able to eat yogurt and function normally. While another person with lactose intolerance may try to eat the exact same food, yet respond in a completely different way.

The biggest key is to know how your body reacts to different foods, and then eat within your limits. Vacation is not the place to test your tolerance. Cheeses, yogurts, milk, and ice cream all have varying levels of lactose. Eating within your comfort zone can ensure an enjoyable and comfortable trip.

Be Vocal, Express Your Concern

Do not let the fear of being labeled as a tourist deter you from taking care of yourself medically. Now is not the time to be a silent traveler! If you are staying in someone’s home, make sure they are aware of your dietary restriction. Many hosts would rather be aware of your intolerance than accidentally cause a flare up. Lactose intolerance is not something you should be embarrassed about. Over 65% of the population suffers from some level of lactose intolerance. Keeping those that need to know, in the know, provides for a much more rewarding vacation for everyone involved.

7. Be dairy-lingual

Having the courage to say something is only half the battle. Knowing how to express yourself is just as vital. Make sure to memorize phrases that explain your lactose intolerance before your trip.

Learn how to say ‘lactose intolerant,’ ‘no cheese’ and ‘no milk’ in the language of the area you are visiting. Below are a few examples from some widely spoken languages:

Language	Lactose Intolerant	No Cheese	No Milk
Afrikaans	laktose onverdraagsaamheid	geen kaas	geen melk
Chinese	Rǔtáng bù nài zhèng	Méiyǒu nǎilào	Méiyǒu niúnǎi
French	Allergique au Lait	Pas de Fromage	Pas de Lait
Japanese	Nyūtōfutaishō	Nani no chīzumasen	Nani no gyūnyūmasen
Portugese	intolerância a lactose	sem queijo	sem leite
Punjabi	Laikaṭōza asahiṇaśīlatā	Kō’ī panīra	Kō’ī dudha
Spanish	Intolerancia a la Lactosa	Sin Queso	Sin Leche
Thai	Phæ̂ lækh to	Mị̀mī chīs̄	Mị̀mī nm

 

Be prepared, not scared

Taking simple precautions and avoiding milk-heavy foods can help you dodge the worst of lactose intolerance on your vacation. But the most important thing to remember is that you are on a vacation! Spend your time on the beach, in the forest, exploring, touring, etc. Trying to plan around a dietary restriction like lactose intolerance can be stressful, but take these steps and don’t let it stop you from living the exciting, outward bound life you lead.

Do you have lactose intolerance? What have you found to be the best way to travel with the issue? Comment below or on our Facebook page to share your tips!

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The existence of “super-bugs,” or antibiotic resistant bacteria, has become a growing fear among public health experts. Antibiotics have had a near miraculous effect on public health. But, their overuse has created bacteria resistant to many antibiotics.

Antibiotics and Their Uses

Sir Alexander Fleming discovered the first antibiotic, penicillin, in 1928. But it wasn’t developed for medical use until the 1940s. At that time it was used to save the life of a woman dying from a strep infection.

Since that day in 1942, antibiotics have been performing near-miracles. Eradicating some of the deadliest infectious diseases, and dramatically reducing the mortality of others.

Antibiotics are also used to increase profits in the raising of livestock. The widespread application of broad spectrum antibiotics has helped create our current situation.

When antibiotics are unnecessarily used, they wipe out weaker bacteria. This leave the more resistant strains to pass that trait down to the next generation.

What does this mean?

This information may be alarming, but it isn’t the end of antibiotics.

The few resistant bacteria that have been found in the US are not spreading fast. Even though we aren’t in immediate danger, we need to develop better, more targeted ways of attacking infections. This is where vaccines are able to prepare the body to better handle an infection. As opposed to treating everything, vaccines strengthen your immune system.

How can vaccines help?

The use of vaccines to prevent bacterial infections is well known. We have vaccines to prevent typhoid, meningitis, tetanus, and whooping cough. These targeted diseases all contain potentially resistant bacteria. Instead of treating the diseases with antibiotics, we can prevent them through vaccination.

A 2008 study observed drug-resistant streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumonia) in immunized and non-immunized patients. Introducing the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) caused a decline in drug-resistant bacteria. Amazingly both vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups were affected.

Both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups were less susceptible to drug-resistant bacteria. The group that did not receive the vaccine received the same benefits because of herd-immunity.

Overview and outlook

We know the existence of super bugs is due in part to the overuse of antibiotics. It is important to remember how valuable antibiotics are when used correctly.

This is not an end for antibiotic usage, but it is a warning against the blanket application we use today.

Scientists are calling for targeted use of antibiotics, and further development of vaccines. This can help stop drug-resistant bacteria from forming in our bodies. Various research efforts are underway to find more ways of tackling this issue.

According to the Director of the CDC’s Antimicrobial Resistance and Emerging Pathogens Team, Alexander Kallen, it is this renewed interest in changing the way antibiotics are used that will fuel change in the future. And who knows? Maybe we can develop some new vaccines along the way.

Are you properly vaccinated for your next trip? Your travel vaccines can have beneficial impacts beyond just protecting you on your trip. Schedule an appointment with one of our travel health specialists today, and make sure you are properly informed before you leave! Call us at or book online now.

What new developments in antibiotic resistant bacteria interest you? Let us know what you think on our Facebook page or via Twitter.

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