A new, robust and comprehensive vaccination program launched in India could change the face of infectious disease in the country by 2020.

The campaign, called Mission Indradhanush for the seven colors of the rainbow, hopes to provide protection against seven key infectious diseases: diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis (not available in the U.S. nor Canada), measles and hepatitis B. It will also offer Japanese encephalitis and influenza vaccinations in certain parts of the country.

The Indian government hopes to bring national immunization levels to at least 90 percent by the end of 2020, the standard for most developed nations.

[Read more…]

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is becoming an increasingly common infection among men and women. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 6.2 million people become newly infected with HPV every year in the United States alone. However, new research has found that increased vaccination and changes to who receives the vaccine could help protect even more people.

HPV itself is rarely fatal and generally causes dermatological problems such as warts, but, in some cases, the sexually transmitted disease can lead to various forms of cancer. Two types of HPV account for 70 percent of all cancer cases and contribute to an estimated 275,000 deaths annually.

[Read more…]

This year, June marks one of the most important international holy times: Ramadan. The ninth month of the Islamic calendar marks a time of fasting and prayer throughout the Islamic world and provides amazing opportunities, and occasional difficulties, for travelers in the Middle East and other Islamic regions.

Ramadan marks the month when the Islamic holy book, the Qur’an, was revealed to the prophet Muhammed. Many consider this month even more important because of the added blessings that are believed to be bestowed upon adherents for fasting and doing good deeds toward others.

[Read more…]

Influenza, Ebola, malaria, measles; all of these infections have unique and important names.  But, where do they come from? To paraphrase the Bard, “What’s in a name? / that which we call the flu / By any other name would still stink.”

When it comes to viruses, a name can be extremely important. Many are named for what they do.  Chickenpox is believed to have been named for either its root giccan, a Latin word meaning to itch which could be confused with chicken.  However, many scholars believe it derives its name from the pox marks themselves, considering that the word used for the disease in many Arab countries is hummus and in Spain, garbanzo, both of which are associated with chickpeas.
[Read more…]

Recent news has some individuals questioning the possibility of an anthrax outbreak in the United States. Currently, this is highly unlikely. However, were one to occur, Passport Health has anthrax vaccine available for those who may require it.

“The likelihood of an anthrax outbreak is extremely low,” said Victoria Sowards, Director of Nursing Resources for Passport Health. “While it is a serious illness, it is only spread through coming in contact with the spores, not person to person. Despite popular belief, it is very hard to come in contact with, and, while potentially fatal, anthrax generally has a low mortality rate unless inhaled.”

[Read more…]