Once a bacteria reaches the brain, it can quickly spell trouble. Without any time for treatment, the illness can cause permanent and life-threatening damage to a person.

That’s why a severe disease like meningitis can cause panic when an outbreak occurs. Meningitis is both highly contagious and can cause swelling of the membranes, or meninges, that surround your brain. There are many causes for this kind of inflammation including bacterial infections, as well as parasitic, fungal, and viral infections.

But, Bacterial Meningitis is the most common.

This version of the disease starts when the bacteria gets into a person’s bloodstream. From there the bacteria can reach the spinal cord and brain that makes up the central nervous system. But, according to the Mayo Clinic, “it can also occur when bacteria directly invade the meninges.”

[Read more…]

Plans for a roadway tunnel close to Stonehenge are putting the ancient site in danger and locals have something to say.

Though Stonehenge is one of the most memorable symbols of England, its reputation may not be enough to assuage frustration over traffic problems plaguing the area.

Plans for the tunnel started in 1989, but was shelved for almost 30 years. The proposed tunnel would alleviate much of the congestion of the A303 highway. By narrowing from two landes to one, the highway adds an hour of travel time for those going between London and the South West of England.

[Read more…]

Back in 2000, the CDC declared that measles was eliminated in the United States. Since that time, the disease has made a dangerous comeback across the country.

A new report from the organization revealed that air travel may be the source for many of these cases.

In 2018, 82 people brought the disease into the U.S. after traveling to a foreign country, making up a large portion of the almost 350 cases. The situation gets worse this year, as every cases of the measles can be linked to infected travelers via airplane. That spread adds up to over 200 cases reported in 12 states. Some of these countries include the Philippines, Indonesia, India, and many European countries, including Great Britain, Italy, and France.

[Read more…]

Have you considered traveling alone this year?

If you don’t have a travel partner, there’s no need to worry. As it turns out, there are plenty of places to travel solo and still have a great time. If you haven’t travelled alone, you might find that it’s a quiet alternative to signing up for a tour with large groups of people, you don’t know too well.

As solo getaways gain popularity, more destinations are accommodating travelers who are alone. That leaves tons of options across the globe for you to explore on your own. You’re only limited by the amount of time and money you want to spend on the vacation.

[Read more…]

In August 2018, the Ministry of Health of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) declared a new outbreak of Ebola virus. The epidemic started in North Kivu Province, eventually spreading to other parts of the country.

As of March 2019, the outbreak has reached almost 1,000 cases.

Some attempted vaccination campaigns have helped, but local dangers have hurt those efforts. The affected areas of the DRC have an ongoing military conflict. Violent acts are hindering the existing treatment and prevention efforts in place by the WHO and CDC.

[Read more…]

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you decide to plan a vacation? You ponder where you want to go, right?

Ok, so, now that you’ve decided what your destination is, you expect to see all the famous sites, at least as many as possible, during the time you’re there.

These busy plans already contradict the idea of slow travel.

In fact, it’s the exact opposite of slow travel because you are not able to relax enough and make meaningful memories. Yes, you’ll have memories, but you won’t have a relaxed holiday. All you’ll remember is how busy you were, which left you feeling exhausted, and that you took in some landmarks. Maybe you’ll reminisce about some of the food that you ate as well, but all in all, your trip will not be a time of true “rest and relaxation.”

[Read more…]

Planning a week-long vacation abroad? Spontaneous travel for work?

If you’re currently taking a prescription medicine, those foreign trips offer a few new obstacles. It’s essential for travelers to understand how to travel with medicine. Some travel prep means you don’t make it across the world and suddenly run out of something you’re unable to get at the local pharmacy.

The severity of running out of your medication is heavily-dependent on your health condition. For some travelers, missing a dose of their medication is a mild issue. For others, it can be life threatening.

First things first, talk to your doctor.

[Read more…]

In 1959 the first human that was diagnosed with HIV was from the Belgian Congo.

Since then, over 35 million people have died worldwide from HIV. Roughly 40,000 people are diagnosed with the virus every year in the United States alone. Sharing intravenous needles and unprotected sex are still the primary ways of spreading HIV.

The first drugs that came on the scene to treat HIV were full of side-effects. Over time, we developed prescriptions for the virus that cause fewer side-effects and inhibit the progression of the virus. Those who have been diagnosed with HIV can live long productive lives.

But even with better medicine, we still lack a way to cure the virus. We’ve had recent promising developments, but still appear far from a widely-used vaccine. While we wait for that breakthrough, some recent outcomes show progress in the area.

[Read more…]

Mosquito-borne diseases have spread across the globe, affecting almost every part of the world. From yellow fever to malaria to Zika virus, these diseases do more than get headlines, causing millions of annual deaths.

Unfortunately, the problems with these diseases appear to be getting worse.

A recent study predicts that almost half of the world’s population will be infected with these illnesses. According to new research published in the journal Nature Microbiology, a few factors play a role in this.

[Read more…]

While we continue searching for a vaccine to combat malaria, we rely on other methods to prevent the virus. Two of the most common tools in this process are mosquito nets and antimalarials.

A new study looks at how we can combine the two products.

Malaria spreads through the bites from mosquitoes. Once infected, the virus can quickly create debilitating and deadly symptoms. This might mean headaches and muscle aches or fatigue. The virus could then progress to a high fever, vomiting, and convulsions, resulting in death.

[Read more…]