Thursday, December 30, 2010

Uganda plans to vaccinate 2.5m against Yellow Fever to fight outbreak

Following the first yellow fever outbreak in Uganda since 1972, the government of the country has announced that it will vaccinate 2.5 million people against the disease. The current outbreak, which is reported to have started approximately 2 months ago, has killed 48 people.

"We are doing all we can to contain the disease," Kenya-Mugisha said. "We are working with our partners to mobilize our resources to vaccinate (in) the affected areas."

Yellow Fever, a disease transmitted by mosquito bites, can cause liver failure, which leads to the skin-yellowing jaundice for which the condition is named as well as hemorrhage.

Prior to this current outbreak, the CDC has recommended that all US travelers be vaccinated for Yellow Fever before entering Uganda, but this current outbreak only gives this recommendation greater urgency.

If you plan to travel to Uganda in the near future, be sure to call Passport Health to schedule an appointment for your Yellow Fever vaccination.

Sources: CIDRAPCNN

Wednesday, December 29, 2010

7 health woes brought on by winter

This piece on MSNBC describes 7 health risks posed by winter, including the flu. Remember: the flu is preventable!!! 

The flu: "In the northern hemisphere, people always seem to get sick during the winter months, from November to March. One reason is the influenza virus's ability to survive: A 2007 study on guinea pigs in the journal PLoS Pathogens found that influenza is more stable in cold, dry air."

7 health woes brought on by winter

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Flu Shots: Yale Study Says Mothers Who've Had Flu Shots Have Healthier Newborns

A study published last week in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases finds that infants born to women who received a flu shot while pregnant were at lower risk for hospitalization due to influenza.

What does this mean? Essentially, a mother's choice to receive a flu immunization protects her baby. There is no vaccine in the USA approved by the FDA for use in children under 6 months of age - but a flu shot given to a pregnant mother may protect a baby for a year. Statistically speaking, "The effectiveness of influenza vaccine given to mothers during pregnancy in preventing hospitalization among their infants, adjusted for potential confounders, was 91.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 61.7%–98.1%; ) for infants aged less than 6 months."

Abstract and full text available here.

Sporadic Flu Activity in Ohio

from the Centers for Disease Control

Happy holidays from PHNO!  As the stores and shopping centers become increasingly saturated ahead of the holidays, and as family and friends get together, we just wanted to give you a few tips to stay healthy this season.

If you have not yet gotten vaccinated for seasonal influenza, keep in mind that flu season runs through the spring! The flu activity map from the CDC shows sporadic flu activity in Ohio, with increased activity in neighboring states. For the first time, the CDC issued this year a universal recommendation for vaccination - that is, the CDC recommends that everyone be vaccinated against seasonal influenza. If you'd like to get a vaccine, call Passport Health Northern Ohio at 216.295.9400 to set up an appointment. If you choose not to be vaccinated, remember to practice safe practices such as washing your hands, staying home from work if you're sick to avoid spreading the flu, and to avoid contact with people who might have been exposed to the flu.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Few adults get vaccinations needed to fight infectious diseases

As reported in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, last month the CDC released data showing that inoculation rates for adults "range from 6 percent to 57 percent depending on the vaccine." This includes the vaccine for the whooping cough--which Passport Health Northern Ohio actively carries and administers. Whooping cough "has reached epidemic levels in California, with 6,400 cases, including 10 infant deaths this year, according to the CDC. That's a 418 percent increase over 2009, and the most cases since 1958." In addition, "Whooping cough has spiked in six other states including Ohio, where 1,546 cases have been reported this year."

"The CDC recommends adults get vaccines for flu, tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), shingles, pneumococcal pneumonia, meningococcal meningitis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and measles, mumps and rubella. Inoculations protect adults against viruses that can cause cancer, reactivation of the chickenpox virus that leads to shingles, and bacteria linked to some forms of pneumonia."

Source: http://www.cleveland.com/healthfit/index.ssf/2010/12/few_adults_get_vaccinations_th.html

Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Testimonial

Thank you to Bruce Zarobell for this kind testimonial!

"Due to my career I am required to travel extensively throughout Asia. By necessity, I must therefore receive frequent inoculations. It is rare that I encounter medical professionals of the caliber of Ms. Kilbane Gordon or her staff at Passport Health. From the moment I walked in the door I was made to feel comfortable and welcome.

I was taken care of quickly, efficiently and treated with respect. I was taken care of with consideration of my personal needs as well as my medical needs. I highly recommend Passport Health and will be returning in the future." - Bruce A. Zarobell