For hundreds of years, typhoid and typhus have plagued the world. The two diseases affect millions of people every year, including travelers. But, many people do not know the difference between these similarly named diseases. This confusion often creates problems for travelers as they prepare to depart.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 50 percent of adults hospitalized during the 2014-2015 flu season were suffering from heart disease. Studies have shown the flu is associated with an increased likelihood of heart attacks and stroke in individuals with heart conditions like heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, heart valve disorders and congenital heart defects among other ailments.
The CDC recommends everyone who has heart disease or has had a stroke needs to take steps to fight the flu. This includes getting a flu vaccine, taking everyday preventions (such as washing hands) and completing any antiviral series your doctor or healthcare provider may suggest.
“Flu vaccines are extremely important, especially for individuals with heart disease,” said Melanie French, RN, vice president of clinic operations for Passport Health. “Research shows influenza could trigger heart attacks or worse in this population. They need to be protected from the flu and the best protection is through a flu shot.”
Passport Health is committed to heart health and safety has flu vaccine in-stock its more than 250 clinics across North America.
To learn more about the flu or the flu vaccine, see Passport Health’s specialized influenza website FluFree.com or see our influenza vaccine pages. Our weekly Flu Report also gives an overview of influenza spread around the world, breaking down local outbreaks important to their communities.
First recorded in 1779, chikungunya has been affecting regions of the world for centuries. But, in recent years, the disease has made its way to the Americas for the first time. In 2014 alone, the disease caused nearly 1.2 million illnesses or 118 cases per thousand people in the Americas. Although there is no vaccination for the disease, it is highly important that travelers know what it is and how to protect themselves.
Spread by the Aedes mosquito (the same mosquito that carries dengue fever and Zika virus), chikungunya is a mosquito borne disease that causes fever and joint pain in its victims. The name is believed to come from a description of the disease in the Tanzanian Makonde language meaning, “that which bends up,” a reference to joint swelling and pain caused by the infection.
Prior to 2013, chikungunya outbreaks had been limited to countries in Africa, Asia, Europe and islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. In late 2013, however, the virus was identified in the Caribbean for the first time. Since then, the disease has been identified in 45 countries with more than 1.7 million suspected cases reported.
Countries in which the disease has been identified include:
Insect-borne disease are a The best protection against chikungunya is the elimination and control of the mosquitoes that spread it. However, this often isn’t possible in the areas where the disease is present. If you are traveling to an affected area, follow these CDC and World Health Organization recommendations:
The symptoms of chikungunya are similar to many other diseases, including the flu. The disease usually takes anywhere from three to seven days to begin to show symptoms. It is not uncommon for infected travelers to return home feeling normal only to fall ill a few days later.
If you travel to an area affected by CHIKV and come down with the symptoms listed below, please see your doctor immediately:
Some individuals are at risk for more severe symptoms. Higher risk populations include newborns, older adults (65+) and individuals with medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes or heart disease.
Unlike some other infections, there is no specific medicine to treat chikungunya. Treatment usually involves decreasing symptoms of the disease by:
To learn more about chikungunya, see the CDC’s chikungunya portal. If you are wondering about yellow fever, malaria or another mosquito borne disease, see our prevention pages.
Have you had an experience with chikungunya, or do you have any questions about the disease? Let us know in the comments below, on our Facebook page or via Twitter.
Planning a family vacation to California? Maybe you have a business trip to Chicago? You may need a passport before going to the airport if you live in one of nearly two dozen states who have yet to institute REAL ID for identification.
The REAL ID Act was enacted in 2005 and has been slowly phased in over the last decade. Most of the changes do not affect the average person, but, in 2016, REAL ID or similar federally issued identification, such as a passport, will be required for all air travelers.
Many states have already instituted REAL ID, but four states (New York, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Louisiana) have yet to move ahead with REAL ID legislation, and nearly half of all states are either currently working toward it or have stated they will not participate. As soon as Jan. 1, 2016, millions of people living in these states may be unable to fly without a passport as state IDs that do not meet the new guidelines will not suffice.
Due to the nature of the REAL ID legislation, we don’t know the exact date it will go into effect other than sometime after Jan. 1, 2016, but there will be a three-month grace period to help individuals who do not yet have the required identification.
“Rushes on passports will likely result in delays in getting applications processed,” said Andrew Meehan, policy director of advocacy group Keeping Identities Safe in a CNBC interview. “Airports in non-compliant states will likely see long lines as travelers unaware of the changes will be turned away.”
This could become a serious issue for even the most casual traveler as the normal government processing time of four to six weeks to process a passport could take exponentially longer. Many experts are recommending that those who live in affected states, as well as anyone planning to travel internationally, obtain their passport before REAL ID goes into effect to ensure they are ready for their trip.
If you need assistance with a passport or would like more information about how to prepare before REAL ID goes into effect, contact Passport Health’s Passport and Visa Services division to learn more.
The slow pace of influenza spread so far this year may be coming to an end. In this week’s Flu Report, we see the first state be declared to have moderate flu activity, and we pass a few other influenza-related milestones as well.
