Monsoon Season will Bring Japanese Encephalitis

Baltimore, MD–6/16/2009-The 2009 monsoon season will soon arrive in the Asian territories and culicine mosquito populations are expected to increase. “These mosquitoes may carry the virus that causes Japanese Encephalitis (JE), which kills 10-15,000 people each year,” warned Fran Lessans, CEO of Passport Health, the largest provider of travel medical services in the U.S. A new vaccine called Ixiaro® has been approved by the FDA, and is ready for distribution in the United States. Some Passport Health’s offices will have both JE-VAX® and Ixiaro® until JE-VAX® is phased out. “The new vaccine is good for adults over 18 so we still have to use JE-VAX® for the younger population,” concluded Lessans. Both vaccines protect against JE.

Monsoons flood areas with fresh rain water and this attracts culicine mosquitoes which may carry the virus that causes Japanese Encephalitis. 30,000-50,000 people are infected each year. An educational video is available here.

China, Korea, Japan, Taiwan and Thailand have seen epidemics of Japanese Encephalitis. The CDC explains that the disease is controlled primarily by vaccination in these areas. “Vaccination is the best prevention for this potentially deadly disease,” cautioned Lessans, whose clients’ number one travel destination is India, followed by China. “JE is endemic in northeastern India and we see outbreaks in China as well.”

The new JE vaccine is given in a 2-shot series, 28 days apart, while JE-VAX® requires 3 doses. The FDA has approved the new vaccine and it is already available at some Passport Health offices.

Japanese Encephalitis is a serious infection which occurs in certain rural parts of Asia and it’s transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. It causes the brain to swell and symptoms of severe infections include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, abnormal movements, occasional convulsions (especially in infants), coma, and paralysis. About 1 in 4 of such cases results in death.

“In addition to being vaccinated travelers need to know how to use the correct type of mosquito repellent and other precautionary measures,” cautioned Lessans. She went on to offer some tips for travelers:

• Remain in well-screened areas whenever possible
• Wear clothes that cover most of the body
• Use an insect repellent containing 20%-30% DEET on skin
• Spray Permethrin on clothes, bedding and mosquito nets

For more information visit www.passporthealthusa.com or call 888-499-(PASS)
Brianne Lacey
410-727-0556
brianne.lacey@passporthealthusa.com

Seasonal Flu Lingers

It’s not too late for a flu shot, if you can find one

BALTIMORE, MD-06/02/09- Although seasonal flu activity has decreased from its peak in late February, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says there are still higher levels of influenza-like illness than is normal for this time of year. According to health officials, it is not too late to get vaccinated against the seasonal influenza virus.

Those who are in higher risk groups should receive the flu vaccine, said Dr. William Schaffner, chairman of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University and a spokesman for the Infectious Disease Society of America. “There’s still some time to do it and there still will be some seasonal flu perking along,” Schaffner said during a recent interview with MSNBC. “I would say, by all means, get vaccinated.”

Those sentiments are shared by Fran Lessans, CEO of Passport Health (www.passporthealthusa.com ), the largest provider of travel medical services and immunizations in the U.S. “We carry the flu vaccine year round,” added Lessans. “For us it's flu season year round because our travelers do head to the southern hemisphere where flu season is about to begin.” Anyone traveling to the southern hemisphere should be vaccinated with the flu vaccine according to Lessans and health officials.

Passport Health Travel Medicine Specialists counsel and educate international travelers and administer the recommended/required vaccines during the consultation, including routine adult immunizations. The company also provides on-site flu clinics to companies across the nation to help protect employees and decrease absenteeism in the work place.

“The flu is a serious illness and Passport Health is trying to do its part in protecting and educating as many people as we can. We are monitoring the progress on the Swine Flu (H1N1) vaccine and watching what the virus will do next,” concluded Lessans. Health authorities will pay close attention to the southern hemisphere’s flu season this year because of the possibility of H1N1 further mutating or forming a hybrid with the seasonal influenza virus.

For more information about Passport Health or to find the Passport Health location nearest you, visit http://passporthealthusa.com/specialty_services/flu_clinics/ or call 1-888-499-PASS(7277).

Jorge Eduardo Castillo
Jorge.castillo@passporthealthusa.com
410.727.0556