Monday, June 20, 2011

Transmission of Influenza on International Flights

May 2009
A. R. Foxwell, et al.
Air travel is one of the fastest ways to spread infectious diseases around the globe; the rapid spread of pandemic flu in 2009 was a prime example. Preventing the spread of infection among air passengers involves contacting those who sat near symptomatic passengers. However, the definition of "near" varies according to how infectious the virus is and how much the passengers and crew move around. It also depends on the length of the flight and how good the air circulation is. A study of flights to Australia found that for flu, the risk zone is smaller than previously thought. On long flights, risk was higher for those sitting in a smaller square zone around a symptomatic passenger (2 seats to either side and 2 seats in front and behind) than in the larger linear zone previously used (2 rows on either side). Narrowing the zone, and thus the number of potentially exposed passengers, may speed the contact process so exposed passengers can get preventive health care sooner.

Contact:
Paul M. Kelly
Australian National University, National Centre for Epidemiology & Population Health, College of Medicine, Biology & Environment,
Eggleston Rd, Acton, Canberra Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia;
+61 61255609
Paul.Kelly@anu.edu.au

http://www.cdc.gov/media/eid/2011/07.html?source=govdelivery

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Vaccine Song

A little diddy about the importance of vaccinations.

Click to play



The Vaccine Song
words and music by Ted Willmore

drawings by Elizabeth W. Jordheim
animated by Ted Willmore

vocals Schuyler Stegmann
acoustic guitar Sean Hennessy
bass guitar Kevin Hennessy
drums Jake Hanselman
electric guitar and piano Pete Szkolka


recorded and mixed by Pete Szkolka
mastered by Bob Katz

© 2010 Brain Warm-ups Entertainment, LLC

Monday, August 9, 2010

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

How to open a wine bottle with a shoe.

Have you ever been travelling and wanted to open a bottle of wine and not had a cork screw? Here's a solution. Let us know if you try this out.

Press to View.

Monday, June 21, 2010

Inviting all Dads!


The Real Guys Immunize Campaign is a platform to empower dads to protect themselves and their families from vaccine preventable diseases. In many families, the dad is the protector but every super dad needs help.

Travel Photography Tips


How to take landscape photos: bit.ly/alZ8Ea

Monday, June 14, 2010

South African World Cup 2010 Safety Tips

Have fun and be safe. Share your stories with us if yo go.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

British Medical Council Bars Doctor Who Linked Vaccine With Autism

By JOHN F. BURNS
Published: May 24, 2010 (NY Times)

"LONDON — A doctor whose research and public statements caused widespread alarm that a common childhood vaccine could cause autism was banned on Monday from practicing medicine in his native Britain for ethical lapses, including conducting invasive medical procedures on children that they did not need....
The disciplinary tribunal’s action came after more than a decade of controversy over the links Dr. Wakefield and associates in Britain, as well as supporters among parents of some autistic children in Britain and the United States, have made between autism and a commonly used vaccine for measles, mumps and rubella. The suggestion of a link caused use of the vaccine in Britain and elsewhere in the world to plummet, a development that critics of Dr. Wakefield said contributed to a sharp rise in measles cases in countries where the vaccine was in use.

Most scientific papers have failed to find any links between vaccines and autism."
Read Complete Article

Friday, April 30, 2010

Small investments pay big dividends in protecting workers’ health

Although the flu season is months away, health care professionals already are preparing vaccinations against three strains of flu that could infect workers and leave businesses in a lurch.....

....But it’s certain that flu and other contagious diseases will emerge, and employers should prepare now to keep the workplace productive, said Pandis and Dr. John Sinnott...


Read more: Small investments pay big dividends in protecting workers’ health - Tampa Bay Business Journal:

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Immunization week to kick off in 112 countries

23 APRIL 2010 | GENEVA -- For the first time, immunization campaigns are being launched simultaneously tomorrow in 112 countries and territories in the World Health Organization Regions of the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean and Europe, with the goals of expanding immunization coverage and raising awareness of the importance of vaccines.....

In the Americas, regional launching events are being held in border areas of Nicaragua, between Suriname and French Guyana, and between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. On the US-Mexico border, a joint event is planned in Las Cruces, New Mexico in conjunction with the launch of US National Infant Immunization Week. The regional goals are to reach children under 5 years of age, pregnant women, elderly populations, border and isolated populations, indigenous populations, and low coverage municipalities...

In addition to vaccinating children and adults and delivering integrated packages of health interventions such as vitamin fortification, countries are planning a variety of activities including workshops, training sessions, social mobilization, round-table discussions, exhibitions and media events addressing vaccine-related issues. Target audiences for various activities include parents, caregivers, health workers, mass media, decision-makers and stakeholders.

Read full article here.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Gavin Gough: Freelance Travel Photographer

A freelance travel photographer, based in Bangkok, Gavin Gough works on assignment and creates stock photography for Getty and Lonely Planet Images. His work has been featured internationally in publications such as National Geographic, Geo, Vanity Fair, Vogue, Conde Nast and many more.

Gavin Gough: Freelance Travel Photographer

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

NHS Videos - Malaria


Malaria is a parasitic infection spread by mosquitoes. An expert explains how the infection attacks different areas of the body and what you can do to avoid getting the disease in the first place. See Video...

NHS VIDEOS | Media Library

Friday, April 16, 2010

Tourists pay to rough it on desert treks in Tunisia


Douz, Tunisia (CNN) -- Spending two weeks trekking through a desert without any creature comforts isn't everyone's idea of a vacation, but for some, it's paradise.Read more...

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Study Finds Military Prone to Infection With H1N1 Flu

Living in close quarters and young age increased risk, Singapore researchers say...http://bit.ly/busT0I

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Indonesian village hunts for 7-meter killer python

March 29, 2010

ASSOCIATED PRESS
JAKARTA, Indonesia -- Indonesian villagers are hunting a giant python that killed a 13-year-old boy a week ago on Sumatra island.

Police Chief Capt. Joshua Tampubolon said Monday that the 23-feet-long (7-meter-long) python was believed to be hiding in waterway tunnels built by a textile company for its industrial waste.
Villagers from Percut Sei Tuan in Deli Serdang district blocked road access to the tunnels Sunday to protect the public.

Tampubolon said the victim and three friends were swimming in the Tembung River when the snake attacked March 21. It strangled and nearly swallowed the boy before villagers armed with spears forced it to flee.

Pythons native to Indonesia usually grow up to 6 meters.

Copyright 2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Article

Thursday, March 18, 2010

H1N1 Swine Flu Still Smoldering in U.S.


March 16, 2010 -- It's no wildfire, but H1N1 swine flu continues to smolder in the U.S.From mid-January to mid-February, the CDC estimates there were 2 million new cases of H1N1 swine flu, causing 18,000 hospitalizations, and about 310 deaths. Read more...http://bit.ly/9SD0GU

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

These 10 Tips Can Make Your Spring Break a Healthy One

DENVER, March 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelle Reesman, RN, Executive Director of Passport Health Colorado, says far too many Spring Break travelers leave home without taking the basic steps she suggests below. "Younger travelers may feel invincible, but they still need to put the same kind of preparation into their health and safety as they do into their destination choice, passport acquisition or flight plans. Too many otherwise wonderful trips are spoiled when these simple rules are ignored," Reesman advises.

Tips Here

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Health care volunteers and disasters: First, be prepared

(PHILADELPHIA) – A surge in volunteers following a major disaster can overwhelm a response system, and without overall coordination, can actually make a situation worse instead of better .The outpouring of medical volunteers who responded to the devastating earthquake that rocked Haiti in January provides a roadmap for health care providers during future disasters, say the authors of a New England Journal of Medicine "Perspectives" piece that will be published online February 24. Read more...http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-02/uops-hcv022410.php

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Women, men differ in travel-related ills

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Traveling around the globe can make anyone fall ill, but men and women tend to differ in the types of illnesses they suffer, a new study finds.

Health

In a study of almost 59,000 international travelers, researchers found that women were more likely than men to come down with bouts of diarrhea or other gastrointestinal problems, colds, urinary tract infections and adverse reactions to medications, such as those taken to prevent malaria.

Men, meanwhile, had higher risks of fever, including from infections transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks or other such "vectors," such as malaria, dengue and rickettsia.

Men were also more likely than women to be treated for mountain sickness, frostbite or sexually transmitted diseases.

The findings offer travelers and travel-medicine specialists a clearer idea of how to prepare for international trips, according to the researchers, led by Dr. Patricia Schlagenhauf of the University of Zurich in Switzerland.

Read more...