The yellow fever virus is a disease that’s transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. While it’s not a common virus found in the U.S., those who travel out-of-country should be aware of the disease and if they will be required to be vaccinated against it.

The yellow fever virus is a disease found in tropical and subtropical regions, specifically in South Africa and Africa, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infected mosquitoes spread the virus to humans, which can cause a number of symptoms and illness to occur. Most people won’t show symptoms, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), but if they do appear, the most common include muscle pain, headache, fever, nausea, vomiting, or loss of appetite.

[Read more…]

Zip lining in Costa Rica is a popular way to view the canopy habitats of many of Costa Rica’s native animals. 90 percent of the native animals in Costa Rica and 50 percent of the plant species native to the country live in the canopies, or upper levels of the rain-forest.

[Read more…]

If you’re the type of vacationer who loves to absorb local people and culture, then voluntourism may be right up your alley. It’s a great way to enjoy some fun travel while also giving back to the surrounding community.

Like any program where people donate their time, there are ways it can help a community — and ways it can harm it as well. Let’s take a closer look at what voluntourism is and its pros and cons.

What is Voluntourism?

Voluntourism is a combination of “volunteering” and “tourism.” It’s a way for people who enjoy volunteering to travel around the world and provide free services and aid to the area they are vacationing.

In 2019, about 1.6 million people participated in voluntourism activities.

Examples of voluntourism include:

• Teaching children at a local school
• Working with a local animal conservation group
• Educate others on recycling and waste management
• Volunteering a local homeless shelter or children’s home
• Building homes for the local community
• Helping with a local medical program

Pros of Voluntourism

Some of the advantages to voluntourism include:

• The Best of Both Worlds — First and foremost, voluntourism gives volunteers a chance to do what they love while getting to see a new destination. And for those who wish they could volunteer more but don’t normally have the time, going away to focus on volunteering can be a powerful, fulfilling experience.
• Communities Fill a Need — For areas that are short on doctors, teachers, or just helping hands, voluntourism brings them willing helpers with the skills they are lacking.
• Experience a New Culture — If you’re travelling to an area you’ve never been to with a new language and way of life, voluntourism helps you get fully ingrained in that culture in a way a regular tourism group would not be able to.
• Financially Aid a Community — With voluntourism, volunteers pay their own way usually including travel expenses, lodging, and food. This helps boost the economy of the community you are travelling to.

Cons of Voluntourism

As with any program, voluntourism also has some potential disadvantages. These include:

• Dishonest Voluntourism Companies — Just Google “voluntourism” and a number of companies pop up with voluntourism opportunities for you to book. While there are quite a few legit companies out there, there are also ones that are not. Before signing up with any company, do your due diligence and vet the company you’re considering.
• Be Realistic About Your Qualifications — Are you really qualified to teach children English in a foreign country? Or do you really have the abilities it needs to build a stable home for someone? Make sure your abilities line up with the voluntourism program you’ve selected so it’s a pleasant experience for everyone.
• Make Sure You’re Not Taking Someone’s Job — There have been stories of volunteers travelling to a foreign location to do a job for free that ultimately takes away a paying job for someone who lives there. A legit voluntourism opportunity does not take possible employment away from those in its community.

Voluntourism the Smart Way

So how can you make sure your voluntourism trip is truly a help? Here are a few tips:

• Look for reputable voluntourism opportunities and make sure to do your own background check, including reading reviews online.
• Make sure to ask lots of questions, including what the trip cost includes, where you’ll be staying, and what type of travel and/or medical insurance or vaccinations you’ll need.
• Really examine the skills and hours required for the volunteer work you’re signing up for — will you truly have the time for it? And is it a match for your skills set?
• Research the cultural norms and background of the community you’ll be working with. This will allow you to acclimate quickly and not make any cultural mistakes.

And finally, make sure you are truly passionate about the volunteer work you’ll be doing. Voluntourism can be a great experience when the interests of both the volunteer and the surrounding community come together.

Written for Passport Health by Corrie Pelc. Corrie Pelc is a freelance writer in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. She has a passion for health and wellness, having written for publications including Exceptional Parent, DAYSPA, INVISION, Eyecare Professional, and Hepatitis Magazine.

Shingles is a common viral infection that is caused by the varicella-zoster virus, the same virus that causes chickenpox. Like chickenpox, shingles causes a painful rash to appear on the skin. If you had chickenpox as a child, you have a higher risk of developing shingles as an adult. Shingles normally affects people over 50, but it can affect anyone.

The chickenpox virus lies dormant in your nerves after it subsides. It can reawaken later in life as the shingles virus. When the virus reactivates, the infected nerves, and the skin the nerves go to, become inflamed, causing a burning or stabbing pain. A few days later, when the virus reaches the skin, a rash of blisters appears. The skin may be very sensitive, unable to tolerate even the lightest touch.

[Read more…]

Many people associate discomfort, pain and fatigue with shingles. While it’s true that most, if not all, symptoms of shingles are uncomfortable, is it safe to say that shingles always cause pain?

The answer to this question is relative and largely based on the infected person’s tolerance for pain. Analyzing the symptoms of shingles and how most people respond to them can help us accurately assess whether shingles are always painful.

[Read more…]

Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with influenza and pneumonia. Approximately one-third of all pneumonia cases began as the flu. The flu is a well-known respiratory virus that has a broad list of complications. Pneumonia is one of the most common. Both the flu and pneumonia are respiratory illnesses that can work together to damage your lungs and potentially lead to death.

[Read more…]

Many people assume that most conditions are as contagious as the flu or coronavirus. But, shingles is one example of an infection that does not spread.

Shingles is not directly contagious. It is a viral infection that causes painful rashes on the body. It usually develops on one side of the body and can affect the face, back, abdomen, mouth, and internal organs. When someone first experiences shingles, there is a tingling, burning sensation in the skin.

[Read more…]

If left untreated, tuberculosis will kill. The bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB) leads to the development of lesions in organ tissues. The most common form of TB, known as pulmonary tuberculosis, can cause severe lung damage leading to respiratory complications and eventual death.

[Read more…]

Being pregnant can be one of the most exciting times of your life. It is a journey, one where you want to keep you and your little one safe until the baby’s eventual arrival. This includes all of the various tests and vaccines that women get when they are pregnant. It is well known that pregnant women should receive a flu shot, but what about tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis vaccine? Should you get one? The answer to that question is a definite yes.

[Read more…]

Antimalarial medication is used to both prevent and treat malaria. When used correctly and taken for the prescribed duration, these medications can reduce your chance of contracting malaria by up to a staggering 90%.

Taking antimalarials can be an essential step to keeping you safe on your trip abroad. For some travellers, access to antimalarials could be a crucial reason to visit a travel clinic. Should you consider antimalarials? Here are the questions travellers should be asking themselves before they travel to a malaria-endemic location.

[Read more…]