France now poses a risk for chikungunya.
The World Health Organization confirmed four cases of the mosquito-borne disease in south eastern France on Friday. Including the nine other possible cases, the WHO fears at least 13 people are infected with chikungunya.
While four confirmed cases may seem small, mosquito-borne diseases are not native to the region. This continues a trend of mosquito-borne disease that are becoming more frequent throughout parts of Europe.
The polio epidemic in the U.S. was far-reaching with widespread consequences. Touching the lives of all citizens, the disease even reached the highest levels of the government. The most notable of these was the 32nd American president, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
The polio epidemic began in the U.S. around 1916. The initial outbreak in New York led to 27,000 cases and 6,000 deaths by the end of that year.
With no vaccine, polio continued to affect communities across the U.S. for the next several decades. While many who contracted polio did not show symptoms, cases often ended tragically. This could be as small as muscle aches or a fever, but sometimes meant paralysis or death.
The world is constantly struggling to get ready for the next epidemic.
Currently there are different methods in place to track outbreaks. This allows the world to pinpoint where outbreaks happen and where they might strike next. But, we still doesn’t have tools in place to handle an epidemic once it starts.
It’s no coincidence that there are multiple devastating outbreaks every year. According to Time, annual disease epidemics have tripled since 1980. The number of new diseases have also seen a significant spike over that time and deadly viruses are on the rise across the globe. From MERS in the Middle East to Ebola in West Africa, travel warnings are all we have to stop future outbreaks.
Sri Lanka is currently facing its worst dengue outbreak in the country’s history, with over 100,000 confirmed cases.
This outbreak has occurred less than a year after Sri Lanka defeated another mosquito-borne disease. In 2016, the World Health Organization officially certified that Sri Lanka had eradicated malaria.
Sri Lanka’s success is credited to a variety of steps from the government and people. The country eliminated the mosquitoes carrying dengue while increasing surveillance of the parasite and use of mobile clinics.
Many people are forced to travel for business. They have to spend days or weeks on end in different parts of the world and only make plans to work.
But, why just leave it at that?
The newest trend in the travel world is largely being taken up by millennials who want to do more than conduct business when on the road for work. Instead, people have been taking advantages of business trips to explore new places, sometimes extending their stays for a long weekend. It’s a win-win: individuals get to see new places, without using a weeks-worth of vacation days or emptying their bank account.
Despite being a much older disease, cholera doesn’t get the same press as Zika or Ebola.
And yet, cholera outbreaks are currently far more of a problem around the world. From Haiti to Yemen to Kenya, the world is in the midst of an increase in cholera.
The intestinal infection spreads via tainted water and food. While it doesn’t always produce symptoms, cholera can cause severe diarrhea, vomiting and leg cramps. Without treatment, cholera can become severe and victims are at risk of dying within hours. According to the Center for Disease Control, ten percent of cholera cases can become severe and deadly.
Today, vacations aren’t only about experiencing things in the moment. They’re about taking those experiences and documenting them.
You can relive those unforgettable moments and revisit favorite places from all around the world. It’s about telling stories and capturing destinations in photographs to share with the world.
Thanks to social media, it’s become more and more important for travelers to share their experiences with friends and followers. But, just because you go to a gorgeous place, doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get a great photo.
Time and time again, when the world has faced its most dangerous epidemics, its hero has come in the form of a needle and a vial.
From polio to measles to smallpox, countless scientists and researchers have found the solution. The CDC estimates that, among children born in the last 20 years, vaccines will prevent more than 21 million hospitalizations and 732,000 deaths.
Developing, testing and rolling out a new vaccination is no easy task. This lengthy and complex process is often frustrating in the midst of an epidemic. Pressure mounts when a vaccine is needed right at the moment, rather than sometime in the future.
One of the greatest and most exciting aspects of traveling is the chance to try traditional local food.
It’s obviously tempting to visit the high-end restaurants, but you can often get more authentic food from the street. This can mean a food cart, truck, market or hole-in-the-wall restaurant, but it’s always genuine and local. Street food is the quick and often cheap way to get to the heart of a city’s cuisine.
Experiences with street food may be delicious, but you also increase the risk of contracting a disease. Illnesses like food poisoning, traveler’s diarrhea and cholera are all food-borne and can be traced to a lack of a caution from the cook and customer.
Many people haven’t even heard of the meningitis B vaccine.
Only available for a few years, the vaccine protects against the disease’s B strain. Apparently, it can also keep you safe from a sexually transmitted disease.
A study in New Zealand found that the meningitis B vaccine may help protect against gonorrhea.
