Polio

What is Polio and How does it spread?

What is Polio Vaccine and Why should Travelers get the vaccine?

The polio vaccination protects individuals from the poliovirus. There are two variants in circulation, injectable and oral. Oral vaccination is used throughout most of the developing world. Canada uses an injectable polio vaccine to prevent any accidental outbreaks.

Who should get Polio Vaccine

All children should receive the polio vaccine. They should receive one dose at two months, four months, six to 18 months and four to six-years-old. Travelers going to certain parts of Africa and Asia may be at risk for polio. A one-time adult polio vaccine a booster dose is recommended for previously vaccinated travelers to certain countries. Even though some people are vaccinated in their childhood, Still they should need to get a booster dose. People groups like, handle specimens of poliovirus, health care workers who may come in contact with infected people should get vaccinated.

Polio Symptoms

Typical symptoms:

1. Sore Throat
2. Fever
3. Fatigue
4. Nausea or Stomach pain
5. Headache

Serious Symptoms

1. Paresthesia (feeling of pins and needles in legs)
2. Meningitis
3. Paralysis
4. Brain or Spinal issues
5. permanent Disability or Death

What can travelers do to prevent the disease?

1. Get Polio Vaccinated
2. Eat safe food and drinks/ safe beverages
3. Practice hygiene and cleanliness
4. Wash your hands often, using soap or sanitizer (Containing at least 60% alcohol.)
5. Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
6. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
7. Avoid close contact with other people, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups with sick people

Influenza (Flu)

What is Influenza (Flu) and How does it spread?

Influenza, or the flu, is a viral infection that spreads from person-to-person. Influenza spreads when an infected person coughs, sneezes or even talks. Droplets can land up to six feet away and be inhaled by others.

What is Influenza (Flu) Vaccine and Why should Travelers get the vaccine?

The flu shot, or influenza vaccination, should be taken against the flu. Quadrivalent Flu Vaccination – Standard flu vaccination that most individuals receive annually. People should get vaccinated at least 2 weeks before travel because it takes 2 weeks for vaccine immunity to develop after vaccination.

Who should get Influenza (Flu) Vaccine

The risk of exposure to influenza during travel depends somewhat on the time of year and destination. The travelers should get vaccinated depending on the destination and the season you are traveling. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine yearly, preferably in the fall before the U.S. flu season begins. Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine yearly, preferably in the fall before the U.S. flu season begins.

Influenza (Flu) Symptoms

1. Fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headache, and fatigue.
2. Vomiting and diarrhea are more common in children than in adults.
3. It’s important to note that not everyone with flu will have a fever.

What can travelers do to prevent the disease?

1. Be sure to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water. Clothing, bedding, utensils, and dishes used by an infected person should not be shared.
   
2. Regularly clean common or frequently touched surfaces.
3. Pay proper attention to announcements from the local government in your travel destination
4. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with soap and water.
5. Prevent sharing of clothes, bedding, and dishes
6. Avoid close contact with sick people
7. When you cough uses tissue or sneezes into the upper sleeve, not to the hands.
8. Cover your mouth and nose with tissues.
9. If there’s any used tissues, put the used tissues properly in to a dustbin and dispose

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)

What is Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) and How does it spread?

Tetanus is an illness. Unlike other infections, this can occur after an injury with a contaminated object. It can easily enter the body through often cuts or wounds made by contaminated objects. Diphtheria is a bacterial disease spreads from person-to-person through droplets from coughing or sneezing which can stay on a surface for a long period of time. Pertussis Is Also known as whooping cough, which is a highly contagious bacterial infection. This happens to damage the airway when the bacteria enter the body through the respiratory system and release toxins.

What is Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine and Why should Travelers get the vaccine?

The tetanus vaccine comes in three forms, Tdap (both for adults), and DTaP (for children).DTaP – protects against tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis, designed for children. Tdap – A booster immunization designed for preteens, teens, and adults. Td – Protects against only tetanus and diphtheria. It is a popular booster for those needing protection against just one type of infection. Tetanus is very dangerous. It can lead to paralysis and sometimes creates difficulty to breathe. Even with intensive care, 10%–20% of people with tetanus die.

Who should get Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine

Everybody should be vaccinated, especially if you are a frequent traveler, you should get a tetanus booster every ten years’ time, as these are serious infections which can easily make complications in children, seniors, and everyone. And everyone should get vaccinated up to date on all tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis vaccinations and boosters. People who have never been vaccinated against tetanus need the full course of three shots given a month apart. People who are doing construction work or demolishing buildings should get vaccinated

Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap) Symptoms

1. Tetanus- Headache, painful muscle stiffness, trouble swallowing, seizures, fever, and high blood pressure.
2. Diptheria-weakness, sore throat, fever, and swollen neck glands
3. Pertussis –Early symptoms are most dangerous for babies under one year. They get runny nose, fever, cough and pauses in breathing.
   

What can travelers do to prevent the disease?

1. Get medical attention for any wound if it is larger than 5cm, has a jagged edge, has dirt on the surface or if it is caused by a human or animal bite.
2. If you get a wound, you need to have a bit of extra care and vigilance because they can easily become infected.

What is Chickenpox (Varicella) 

What is Chickenpox (Varicella) and How does it spread?

Chickenpox is a highly contagious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

“A blister-like rash comes across the body and It is common for those infected to have between 250 and 500 itchy, annoying blisters. The babies, adults and those who have weekened immune system

are at a high risk. getting done the vaccination is the best prevention. “

What is Chickenpox (Varicella) vaccine and Why should Travelers get the vaccine ?

The chickenpox vaccine is safe and effective.Getting the Chickenpox vaccine can protect you against the varicella-zoster virus. In Canada, Passport health offers the Varivax vaccine. ” the chickenpox vaccine is safe and effective.Getting the Chickenpox vaccine can protect you against the varicella-zoster virus. In Canada, Passport health offers the Varivax vaccine. This provides protection against chickenpox and is approved for use in children 12 to 15 months and four to six-years-old.

Who should get Chickenpox ( varicella) Vaccine ?

Usually children receive two doses. One is at 12 to 15 months and another is at four to six-years-old. The second dose can be given after at least three months,

if necessary. Usually children receive two doses. One is at 12 to 15 months and another is at four to six-years-old. The second dose can be given after at least three months, if necessary. Anyone over the age of 13 who has never had chickenpox should get two doses at least 28 days apart.

Individuals who had an allergic reaction to a previous dose, pregnant women and immune compromised persons should not get the vaccine.

Chickenpox (Varicella) Symptoms

1. Itchy, Fluid-Filled Blisters
2. Rash (especially on face, chest, and back)
3. Fever Tiredness Loss of Appetite

What can travelers do to prevent the disease?

1. Get vaccinated Varicella vaccine
2. “Documentation of age-appropriate vaccination Preschool-aged children (≥12 months through 3 years of age): 1 dose
3. School-aged children (≥4 years of age), adolescents, and adults: 2 doses”

Cholera

What is Cholera and How does it spread?

Cholera is an acute, diarrheal illness caused by infection of the intestine with the toxigenic bacterium Vibrio cholerae serogroup O1 or O139. The cholera bacterium is usually found in water or food sources that have been contaminated by feces (poop) from a person infected with cholera. Cholera is most likely to be found and spread in places with inadequate water treatment, poor sanitation, and inadequate hygiene. The disease can spread rapidly in areas with inadequate treatment of sewage and drinking water. The disease is not likely to spread directly from one person to another; therefore, casual contact with an infected person is not a risk for becoming ill.

What is Cholera Vaccine and Why should Travelers get the vaccine?

Cholera, vaccination is called Dukoral and currently recommended for Canadian travelers. The vaccine is administered orally in two doses one taken up to six weeks prior to departure and the second taken at least one week before the trip. The vaccination protects against travelers’ diarrhea for up to three months and from cholera infection for up to two years. A single booster dose is recommended every three months for those travelers staying in an at-risk destination for a longer time period.

Who should get Cholera Vaccine

Travelers to countries where cholera is a risk. Travelers who visit friends and family in an outbreak area or working in high-risk settings. Travelers who work at higher risk such as refugee or cholera treatment centers.Travelers who stay longer or have less access to safe food and water.Extra precaution should be taken when travelling to the following locations: Haiti / Dominican republic / Cuba / Tanzania

Cholera Symptoms

1. Watery diarrhea,
2. Vomiting,
3. Rapid dehydration
   
4. nausea

What can travelers do to prevent the disease?

1. Safe eating and drinking practices.
2. Eat raw vegetables, having peeled them and wash properly before a consumer
3. Safe drinking water
4. Avoid salads or raw foods made with fresh produce
5. Have drinks without ice, as the water used in the cubes may be contaminated
   
6. Eat properly cooked foods only when they are served hot
7. Brush your teeth with drinking-safe water
8. Boil water or use a chemical disinfectant, or treat your water with an ultraviolet light

What is Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and How does it spread?

What is Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine and Why should Travelers get the vaccine ? Why should Travelers get the vaccine?

Who should get Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine ?

Measles, Mumps and Rubella  (MMR) Symptoms

What can travelers do to prevent the disease?

1.  Make sure you are fully vaccinated or otherwise protected against measles Make sure you are fully vaccinated or otherwise protected against measles
2. Infants 6-11 months of age should have 1 dose of measles vaccine if traveling internationally.
3. Children 12 months of age or older should have 2 doses, separated by at least 28 days.
4. Children in the United States routinely receive measles vaccination at 12-15 months of age.
5. The only rubella vaccines available in the United States are the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccines.
6. Adolescents and adults who have not had rubella or have not been vaccinated with MMR should get 2 doses, separated by at least 28 days.
7. “The only measles vaccines available in the United States are the measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) and the measles-mumps-rubella-varicella (MMRV) vaccines. MMR has been used safely and effectively since the 1970s. But a few people experience mild, temporary, adverse reactions, such as joint pain, from the vaccine,but serious side effects are extremely rare. There is no link between MMR and autism.” Apart from that,
8. Practice hygiene and cleanliness. Wash your hands often. If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).
9. Prevent touching your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.
10. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.
11. Try to avoid close contact, such as kissing, hugging, or sharing eating utensils or cups with people who are sick.