Things I need to do today:
1. breathe in 2. breathe out
Had a pack of post it notes in my Christmas stocking with the above list already started for me. Made me laugh. A few deep cleansing breaths are just what I need to do more often. Try this when you are traveling and feel stressed
The Dept. of Health, Republic of South Africa has posted its revised requirements for yellow fever (YF) vaccination documentation for travelers entering the country. These requirements can be reviewed at http://doh.gov.za/docs/policy/2011/draft_yellowfever.pdf
In addition to previously published regulations, note that vaccination will also be required for all travelers older than 1 year (a) traveling to and from Zambia, (b) traveling from YF low-risk counties, including Tanzania, and (c) transiting through a YF risk country (see South Africa’s list of such at-risk countries at the above link.)
TDaP
The tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis vaccine is now approved for persons over 65 years old. Previously the TD without pertussis was the approved vaccine for that age group. Pertussis (whooping cough) is becoming a problem again in both children and adults. Older persons need the vaccine not only to protect themselves but also their very young grandchildren who may be susceptible prior to getting the series of childhood vaccines.
It is now possible to conveniently make your appointment with Nashville Travel Medicine directly from our website.
Just go to www.TravelMedicinNashville.com and click on “Make your appointment Online now” and pick a time that suits you. Of course you can still call us at 615 846-4500 to arrange your appointment.
We think that online appointment scheduling is the wave of the future and we believe that travelers will like this convenience which lets them make their appointment at any time day or night.
DENGUE FEVER UPDATE
You may never have heard of Dengue Fever. It is a viral illness transmitted by mosquitos, and it is an increasing threat to travelers. Recently there have been reported outbreaks with thousands of cases in Brazil, Venezulea, Honduras, Australia and Saudi Arabia. It also occurs at lower rates in many other countries. There are occasional cases in persons in the US who have not traveled. These are secondary cases spread from returning travelers, as we do have the mosquito vector in this country.
There is no vaccine available for dengue, so the only defense is for you to take precautions to avoid mosquito bites. These include wearing long pants and long sleeve shirts, use of a good mosquito repellant (I recommend Ultrathon which is at time release formula DEET which lasts up to 12 hours), and sleeping under a mosquito net at night if your sleeping area is not sealed against mosquito entry.
There is no specific treatment for Dengue Fever which produces an illness similar to severe influenza. The interval between mosquito bite and onset of illness is usually 3 to 7 days, but may be up to 14 days. Occasionly dengue virus infection may produce fatal dengue hemorrhagic fever. For more information go the the CDC web site. There is a link on my website under “useful links”
Happy Holidays Stephen K. Felts
Most people are not aware that travel to certain countries in Africa and Asia may put them at risk of catching polio. Currently there is an ongoing outbreak in Congo with 201 reported cases and 94 deaths. Polio has also been reported from Angola and Kenya this year. Most Americans have had a polio vaccine series as a child, but this protection is gradually lost as one gets older. Therefore a booster dose of polio vaccine is advised by the CDC for travelers to certain countries. A single dose as an adult should provide lifetime protection. We will recommend this vaccine when you visit Nashville Travel Medicine if your your travel agenda includes a country which has a CDC recommendation for a polio booster.
We are entering the high season for influenza illness. International travelers are at an even higher risk because of increased exposure in airports , on planes, and in crowds in other geopraphic locations. If you haven’t already had this season’s vaccine, which has been available for several months, get it NOW. This season’s vaccine contains the H1N1 strain as well as two others which are expected to be prevalent this influneza season. The vaccine is absolutely safe. Travelers may also want to consider taking a supply of the antiviral Tamiflu with them. The vaccine protection is only fair, and having the antiviral with you allows you to start it early when it is most effective. After 48 hours of symptoms the medication provides little or no benefits. We will be glad to provide a prescription for Tamiflu to travelers visiting us during the flu season.
NASHVILLE TRAVEL MEDICINE is Middle Tennessee’s premier provider of immunization services for international travelers. Our mission is to provide the very best travel medicine services available at the lowest possible prices. We have a 10 year track record of providing the best and most affordable travel medicine services available. Stephen K. Felts, MD, FACP personally provides the travel advice and immunizations. He is the only person in Tennessee who has taken and passed the Certifying Examination in Travel Health of the International Society of Travel Medicine.
We are conveniently located on the 7th floor of the Summit Medical Center Professional Building in Suite 709. We are on the east side of Nashville about 5 minutes from the Nashville airport.
Yellow fever vaccine is the only vaccine that is required for entry into any country in the world. Only certain countries have this requirement. Usually these are countries located in central Africa and central South America where yellow fever still is a threat.
There are two reasons to get yellow fever vaccine. One is to protect yourself from this very serious mosquito transmitted disease. The second is to avoid problems with the officials checking your passport on entry into certain countries. Often both of these reasons apply, but in some situations, where your travel plans are not likely to put you at risk of the disease, you still need the vaccination to obtain a visa or to avoid being denied entry into the country.
Some countries require yellow fever vaccine only if one has recently been in a coutry where yellow fever is still occuring . Others require it for all travelers, even those traveling directly from the US where there hasn’t been a yellow fever problelm for a very long time.
Information about the requirements for each county are available from the CDC Travel website, or by calling my office at 615.846.4500
There has been an ongoing outbreak of rabies in dogs on the Indonesian island of Bali. As a result there have been over 100 human deaths from rabies there in the past two years.
AVOID DOGS AND OTHER ANIMALS while in Bali.
Consider rabies pre-exposure vaccination if you plan to be in Bali for a prolonged period.
