Sounding like something out of a horror movie, a smallpox demon is actually far more scientific.

Or a mix of science and centuries-old Japanese history.

Although eradicated in 1980, smallpox created fear for centuries across the globe. The infectious disease caused a fever, vomiting, sores and skin rash. It even led to bumps that would scab and leave scars all over the body.

The smallpox demon comes from Japanese culture and believed to be the source of all smallpox epidemics in Japan. In medieval times, people would try to appease or attack the demon since there was no other source of reliable, effective treatment.

[Read more…]

Nigeria is currently facing the worst outbreak of Lassa fever ever recorded.

The outbreak reportedly began in January and is still raging on. The disease has spread to at least 19 states since the epidemic began.

As of March 25, 134 people have died from Lassa fever; that number is only expected to increase. There are 394 confirmed infections and a suspected 1,219 more are infected. There have also been over 4,000 contacts identified- officials are currently waiting to see if those exposed will contract the disease.

[Read more…]

Stomach flu, traveler’s diarrhea, winter vomiting bug. Norovirus goes by many names, but travelers across the globe know the dangers of the infection.

The extremely contagious stomach virus is transmitted from person to person via direct contact. This can happen justy by shaking hands with someone who’s sick, eating contaminated foods, and touching infected surfaces.

The virus spreads most often when a lot of people share close quarters.

[Read more…]

If you’ve ever flown in an airplane while sick, you already know that conditions can quickly get worse. The enclosed environment only exacerbates those painful symptoms.

But, sometimes that flight is unavoidable. Business, or even a much-needed vacation, take priority and maybe you can’t get out of the flight.

Sometimes you have to go with the flow and board the plane.

[Read more…]

For many, a trip abroad is a reprieve from daily stress. Travelers anxiously look forward to that break from the humdrum of daily life.

But, when something goes wrong during that escape from reality, it can put the whole trip in jeopardy. Unfortunately, it’s common to experience some inconvenience during international travel.

Lost luggage is frequently the event that can instantly ruin your foreign getaway.

[Read more…]

We may worry about the flu during this season, but the virus also leads to another dangerous illness: pneumonia. Even with a vaccine available, pneumonia causes nearly a million deaths every year across the globe.

In hopes to reduce those numbers, we could see changes to that serum.

Officials in Cuba are currently developing a new pneumonia vaccine. The process began in 2006 and it’s nearing completion, with hopes that the new vaccine will be available to Cuba’s population as early as 2019.

[Read more…]

Millions of people take prescription medications every day for their health. Unfortunately, packing medicine can prove to be a bit tricky when planning a vacation, especially if it’s for an extended period of time.

Many individuals need their medications because of serious health ailments. These can range from high blood pressure to diabetes, asthma, or digestive problems, such as GERD or IBS. Missing a few doses is not an option and could cause severe health complications.

So, what is the best way to handle bringing your medications with you as you travel to a foreign country?

[Read more…]

Over the past year, South Africa has seen a sharp rise in listeria cases.

Reuters reported that since January 2017, there have been over 900 confirmed cases of the deadly disease. The South African government has also reported that 180 people have died due to this illness.

The World Health Organization recently called this the world’s worst listeria outbreak.

[Read more…]

The Taj Mahal is one of the most recognizable landmarks in Indian history. Millions of tourists travel from around the world to visit the vast white tomb that’s now a World Heritage property.

The structure sits across 42 acres and was built as a sign of love from Emperor Shah Jahan for his favorite wife, Arjumand Banu Begum, also known as Mumtaz Mahal. The construction of this memorial began in 1632 and took 16 years to complete. Emperor Jahan commissioned all kinds of artisans to build and add intricate details to this monument to his wife. The craftsmen that built the Taj Mahal came from all over the region, including Central Asia and even Iran.

The Taj Mahal is symmetrically perfect in addition to the outer buildings and lush gardens. The exterior walls are made of white marble with abundant use of many different stones on the interior walls. Those stunning walls come from a mix of semi-precious and rare stones. It’s those rocks that give the Taj Mahal a stunning color, on both the inside and outside.

[Read more…]

Highly contagious and transmitted between people, a measles outbreak is nothing to take lightly. That’s why many are worried about Europe’s rapid rise in measles cases over the last year.

In 2016, there were over 5,200 cases reported; but the World Health Organization said that in 2017, there have been over 21,000 measles cases throughout Europe. During that span, 15 European countries confirmed they had about 100 people who became ill with the disease.

Some of the countries with the greatest rise in cases include Italy, Ukraine and Romania.

[Read more…]