The Challenges of Overseas Medical Evacuations
Dr. John Cahill explains that a number of tropical diseases, if left unrecognized or untreated, can have devastating outcomes. Unfortunately, he sees this on a daily basis. There are people who return from their travels with serious viral or parasitic infections. In good hands, it can be very easily treated, but without seeking the correct care or going to a physician who doesn't understand the implications of these diseases, they can be misdiagnosed or missed. (Read more about The Challenges of Overseas Medical Evacuations)
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The Concept of Herd Immunization
Dr. John Cahill explains that though Infectious Disease specialists would like to vaccinate everyone, getting a large amount of people vaccinated can provide a barrier for most of the group. If enough of a population gets vaccinated then the potential for disease to travel across the globe, or even within U.S., is greatly diminished. In the event of a serious outbreak, we would start by vaccinating the health care providers. We would then vaccinate people serving sectors valuable to society infrastructure like police officers and firemen. (Read more about The Concept of Herd Immunization)
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How Real is the Threat of Pandemic?
Dr. John Cahill explains that our world is becoming increasingly small and easy access air travel and global urbanization has created the possibility for the very real threat of pandemic. The internet has made international travel quick and easy and soon a majority of the global population will live in close quarter urban environments. A good example is SARS, which started in China, made its way to Hong Kong, and spread throughout the world rapidly. More recently, though there have not been a large number of reported cases, Avian Influenza has the potential to be a serious threat to public health. If someone with the common Flu were to meet someone with Avian Influenza, there is a very real possibility that the two could mutate into something very virulent and spread rapidly. (Read more about How Real is the Threat of Pandemic?)
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E. Coli Prevention | Nutrition
This is a dirty problem we have on our hands.
According to the center for science in the public interest, in the U.S. alone, there are 76 million--that’s right, million-- illnesses due to food borne pathogens each year, and five thousands deaths.
That means roughly one in four of us get sick from our food each year.
Less than heart-healthy foods are what we come to expect from many fast food chains. But life-threatening bacteria… No. (Read more about E. Coli Prevention | Nutrition)
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Prez Plan Questioned
A US outbreak of Avian Flu may kill as many as 1.9 million Americans and hospitalize 9.9 million. But is President Bush's plan on target to protect the country if a pandemic did occur here?
Some health officials believe this outbreak could be as bad as what happened with the 1918 flu. But if we knew about this current H5N1 flu bug seven years ago, and only now we're getting our protection plan going, is this an example of too little too late? (Read more about Prez Plan Questioned)
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HAND GEL STUDY
Here’s a question for you- how often do you wash your hands? And how often do your kids wash their hands?
Given how easily infections travel from one person to another, probably not enough.
A new study out of the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests that we should be using hand sanitizers to help keep us clean and safe from infections.
Ten year old Monica Mannguard is all ready for the first day of school. She’s always armed with an alcohol based hand sanitizer. “I always make sure I have some kind of hand sanitizer with me, no matter where I am,” says Monica. (Read more about HAND GEL STUDY)
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Aids Vaccine
The first experimental vaccine against the aids virus has been approved for test among humans. However, it combats the A strain of the virus which predominates only in Africa. (Read more about Aids Vaccine)
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HEALTH CARE WORKERS & FLU RISK
As the effects of the flu vaccine shortage sweep the nation, the Centers for Disease Control is warning that health care workers need to make every effort to get vaccinated. Healthcare workers are a liability in terms of the spread of the flu virus. Yet, many don’t get the flu vaccine. And this year, when the flu vaccine is in short supply, it’s important to keep the virus from spreading as much as possible, which is why these healthcare workers need to get their shots. (Read more about HEALTH CARE WORKERS & FLU RISK)
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WHOOPING COUGH VACCINE
Whooping cough- a disease once thought to be eliminated in adolescents and adults is making a comeback, driving pharmaceutical companies to respond with a whooping cough vaccine. Once intended only for children, the whooping cough vaccine is now protecting adolescents and adults from the disease. (Read more about WHOOPING COUGH VACCINE)
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