Travelers love to bring home lasting memories of their trips, but the flu isn't one of them. Getting sick far away from the comforts of home can ruin an entire vacation or business trip. Since travel often requires close contact with a large number of people, commuters are more susceptible to germs and flu than ever before.
"Confined to smaller spaces, breathing recycled air, and touching more common surfaces, travelers have increased risk of infection," said Dr. Robert Schiller, chairman of family medicine at BethIsraelMedicalCenter in New York City. "The proximity of passengers and high occupancy in airplanes, buses, trains and even cruise ships increases the chance of coming into contact with someone with flu. The anxiety of traveling, lack of exercise and sleep, and limited food choices associated with travel can take a toll on your health."
Since flu is often transmitted hand-to-hand, travelers should wash their hands often and avoid rubbing their eyes or nose. Schiller also advises travelers to avoid putting their faces directly on airline-supplied pillows or blankets that haven't been cleaned. Another general rule for air passengers is to drink at least four to eight ounces of water for every hour of flight time, which keeps the body hydrated and lessens the chance of catching a virus.
In a global world, significant factors affect the spread of infectious diseases, including international trade, air travel and globalized food production. "Airport malaria" is a term coined by researchers to explain the more recent spread of malaria to areas such as the United States and Europe, which some scientists credit to warmer climate changes.Airport malaria is transmitted when a mosquito ...
BALTIMORE -- New vaccine requirements will affect anyone who is applying for an immigrant visa for entry into the U.S. and anyone seeking adjustment of status for permanent residence. Applicants must show proof of vaccinations against vaccine-preventable diseases, as recommended by the U.S. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Passport Health, a company that specializes in travel medicine and vaccinations, announced ...
Diarrhea PatchResearchers at the University of Texas School of Public Health have found that patients given a travelers’ diarrhea vaccine were significantly less likely to suffer from clinically significant diarrhea than those who received placebo, according to a study published in this week’s edition of the Lancet. The patch-based vaccine is part of the Phase 2 study in conjunction with ...
As Americans travel to Israel for the Jewish holiday of Passover, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advises all travelers to ensure they are protected from measles before departing, because of a measles outbreak in Israel. Since September, more than 900 cases of measles have been reported in Israel, with about 700 cases in the cities of Jerusalem ...
DENVER -- Michelle Reesman, RN, executive director of Passport Health Colorado, says far too many international travelers, from business travelers to the more adventurous types, leave home without taking the basic steps she suggests below. "People need to put the same kind of preparation into their health as they do into their destination choice, passport acquisition or flight plans," ...
Bacteria and viruses are the microscopic organisms – otherwise known as germs -- that are responsible for causing and transmitting illness and disease. These microbes are so small, that according to the American Society for Microbiology, if the smallest of all microbes was the size of a baseball, an average bacterium would then be the size of the pitcher's mound, and just one of the millions of cells that make up your body would be the size of the ballpark!
