Passport Health Travel Medicine

Whooping Cough, Make sure you're vaccinated!

2012-01-19T09:09:00.000-08:00

Eight children in Hunterdon have recently been diagnosed with whooping cough — including those whose families declined to have them vaccinated or failed to get all of their necessary shots, state and county health officials said today.
An Ocean County health department spokeswoman also confirmed two infants who developed symptoms in December have been diagnosed with the highly contagious bacterial respiratory infection.
The infected children in Hunterdon County range in age from 4 to 15, and are all getting treated at home, said Carl Rachel, spokesman for the Hunterdon County Division of Public Health.
Whooping cough mimics the symptoms of a cold but then develops into "uncontrolled coughing spells," according to the county website. Nationally, the illness annually kills 10 to 20 people who are typically less than a year old, the website said.
New Jersey requires children enrolled in preschool or day care public to be vaccinated against whooping cough, also known as pertussis. But state law allows parents to cite religion and medical conditions as a reason to seek an exemption.
Most people can avoid contracting the infection — spread by coughing and sneezing — with a series of four shots beginning when a child is two months old. Public health professionals recommend people ages 10 to 64 get booster shots.
Of the eight children sickened in Hunterdon County, "several were immunized; of those immunized cases, some did not have the complete series of pertussis vaccines appropriate for their age," said state health department spokeswoman Donna Leusner.
"Vaccines in general are not 100 percent effective in preventing infections, but vaccinations still can lessen the degree of illness, even if a child is not fully immunized," she said.
Rose Puelle of the Hunterdon County Division of Public Health Preparedness, confirmed some of the sick children "were vaccinated in the past, and some not for personal or medical reasons."
"Most people who complete a vaccine series including the recommended boosters have the maximum protection available to prevent illness," Puelle said. "It affords everyone in the community, including those most susceptible such as infants and immuno-compromised, the best chance of avoiding the serious consequences of disease."
In Ocean County, neither of the infected infants was vaccinated against whooping cough, county health department spokeswoman Leslie Terjesen. Both babies required hospital care, although one has since been discharged, she said.
A vocal minority of parents oppose mandatory vaccines. Sue Collins, co-founder of the New Jersey Alliance for Informed Choice in Vaccination, said vaccines are not guarantees against disease. "I know that Hunterdon had several cases a few years ago and those were in vaccinated children," she wrote in an e-mail. "From what I understand now, the strain of pertussis seems to be circulating in some communities and other states does not match the strain in the vaccines."
Since January 2011, 51 confirmed cases of whooping cough in New Jersey have been reported to the state health department. In 2009, health officials confirmed 39 cases of whooping cough in Hunterdon County.
The outbreak in Hunterdon began in the fall, according to the state.

Passport Health opens an additional location in Bridgewater NJ

2011-12-05T07:46:00.000-08:00

We are expanding and will be opening an additional office to better serve you in Bridgewater New Jersey at 991 US highway 22 suite 200.

Hours by appointment only, call us at 732 345 0029 today!

http://www.passporthealthnj.com/

Varicella Lollipop Scam Alert

2011-11-07T09:49:00.000-08:00

Authorities and doctors are warning parents who want to avoid chicken pox vaccines for their children that a new mail-order scheme to share lollipops licked by children infected with the disease as a way to create immunity in their kids is not only unsafe but illegal.
“Can you imagine getting a package in the mail from this complete stranger that you know from Facebook because you joined a group, and say here, drink this purported spit from some other kid?” U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee Jerry Martin told The Associated Press.
News reports from Phoenix’s KPHO-TV and Nashville’s WSMV-TV this week looked into groups forming on social media sites like Facebook that offer ways to get “natural immunity” from chicken pox by deliberately exposing children to the disease.
Concerns about the vaccine range from worries about whether some of the ingredients are harmful to children, to fears that the vaccine itself is ineffective and would only be creating only short-term immunity to the disease.
Facebook groups such as “Find a Pox Party in Your Area” have popped up — offering ways for people to connect and share the virus through infected items, according to the TV news reports.
Doctors warn that the practice is not only impractical, but it’s dangerous.
Isaac Thomsen, a specialist in pediatric infectious diseases at Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital, told the AP that shipping the infected items is “theoretically possible” but “probably not an effective way to transmit it. It typically has to be inhaled.”
But Thomsen also warned that the lollipops could carry other more dangerous viruses, like hepatitis.
It is also federal crime to send diseases, viruses or a contagion through the post office or any mail transport service and carries a sentence between less than a year to 20 years if convicted, according to Martin.
In 1995, the chickenpox vaccine, varicella, was approved for use in the United States. Every state requires every child be vaccinated before they can enter day care or school.
There are some exceptions that vary state to state, including proof that the child has contracted the virus on his or her own and as parents who refrain from getting their children vaccinated due to religious reasons.
ABC News’ Emily Friedman and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Please call 1-800-741-0504 for an appointment for the varicella vaccine

www.passporthealthnj.com

Anyone Can Get Influenza

2011-09-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

On average, 1 out of 5 Americans suffer from influenza every year. In addition, influenza and its related complications result in approximately 226,000 hospitalizations in the US each year. Depending on virus severity during the influenza season, deaths can range from 3000 to a high of about 49,000 people.
We all are at risk for contracting influenza. The results for some will be lost work or school days. But for those at highest risk, the results can be more serious – leading to hospitalization and even death. The best way to prevent influenza is with an annual flu shot.
Combined with pneumonia, influenza is the nation's eighth leading cause of death.
Influenza is serious – get vaccinated

Corporate flu clinics

2011-07-14T12:08:00.000-07:00

Every year millions of dollars are lost by American Business due to loss of productivity with employees being out sick with the flu.

Don't let your company be a part of that statistic

Call or click now for more information

http://www.passporthealthnj.com/

1-800-741-0504

First Class Medical Care for Travel Anywhere

2011-07-06T20:29:00.000-07:00

Exciting destinations, exotic foods, engaging customs. . . International travel, whether for personal or business reasons, can be challenging if you are not prepared. Disease, illness, crime, and injury happen unexpectedly to even the most experienced traveler. Planning for good health on an international trip is as important as buying tickets or obtaining a visa and passport. That is why Passport Health's mission is to provide information, travel vaccines, and travel medications for you, the international traveler.

Passport Health is the largest provider of travel medical services in the United States with convenient locations nationwide. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure we can prepare you for your trip with destination-specific travel information, immunizations, travel shots, specialty travel products, and international travel health insurance in all our travel clinics.

Travel Alert E. coli

2011-06-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

June 8 (Bloomberg) -- Germany's top health official said the deadly E. coli outbreak appeared to be waning as local authorities defended their handling of the crisis.

At least 2,743 people have been stricken by E. coli since May 2, up from 2,429 yesterday, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said today. The bacteria have caused 25 deaths, an increase of 2 from yesterday, the Stockholm-based agency said.

The outbreak's cause may never be found, Health Minister Daniel Bahr said at a news conference. The Robert Koch Institute, Germany's disease-control agency, reiterated that people shouldn't eat lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and salad ingredients such as vegetable sprouts.

"It's not the time yet to sound the all-clear, but after the analysis of figures and data at the Robert Koch Institute there's reason for justified optimism that the worst is behind us," Bahr said in Berlin today.

German officials have been struggling to pin down the source of the infections for several weeks, and have come under fire for delays as well as twice pointing to a cause for the outbreak too hastily.

The country's decentralized federal system may have compounded a lack of leadership and prevented a speedy response to the crisis, according to Baerbel Hoehn of the Green Party.

'More Confusion'

"To get to the root of all this, the German agriculture minister must say 'I'll take charge, I'll coordinate everything," Hoehn said today on N24 television. "Instead, too many people with new ideas are constantly coming to the fore, which only serves to create more confusion."

Germany may review its response after the outbreak to determine what could be improved, though there's no need to change the structure of the system, Stefan Gruettner, social minister of the state of Hesse and chairman of a meeting of health ministers from the country's 16 states, said in an interview today.

"We don't need centralism," Gruettner said. "Everything went well."

Germany initially blamed Spanish cucumbers, and on June 5 officials said sprouts from an organic farm played a role in the outbreak. Tests from the farm in Lower Saxony state have showed no evidence of the bacteria.

Disease Clusters

There are eight E. coli clusters linked to the sprout farm, Agriculture Minister Ilse Aigner said at the Berlin news conference. Lower Saxony still sees a connection between the outbreak and the farm in the town of Bienenbuettel even though tests have come up negative, Agriculture Minister Gert Lindemann told N24 in an interview today.

"We have, as yet, no bacterial results, and I don't know if we'll ever have these," the Lower Saxony minister is cited as saying. "But the epidemiological chain between the sites of the outbreak and the Bienenbuettel site yesterday became stronger rather than weaker."

Tests on 471 samples from Lower Saxony have come back negative, with another 382 still being tested, the state said in an e-mailed statement today. Nine samples taken from the farm have tested negative for the bacteria, and eight tests are still being conducted, the state said.

Infections among some employees of the Bienenbuettel facility support a link, Lindemann told the German news channel today.

The strain of E. coli involved in the outbreak produces a toxin that attacks the kidneys and blood vessels. Most cases have occurred in adult women, and among people from northern Germany or who have recently traveled there, the ECDC said.

EU nations reported 722 people have developed a potentially fatal kidney complication known as hemolytic uremic syndrome after being infected with E. coli, the agency said today. That's an increase from 674 cases yesterday.

--With assistance from Rainer Buergin in Berlin, Niklas Magnusson in Hamburg, Rudy Ruitenberg in Paris and Emma Ross- Thomas in Madrid. Editors: Phil Serafino, David Risser, Marthe Fourcade.

When planning a trip call us for pre depature travel health services 1-800-741-0504
www.passporthealthnj.com

Travel Season News Story from Passport Health

2011-06-02T15:07:00.000-07:00

This is a nice news story from Passport Health in Colorado

http://www.9news.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=965230213001

click the above link to watch the story

Call 1-800-741-0504 for your appointment today

www.passporthealthnj.com

Why Passport Health?

2011-05-23T09:18:00.000-07:00

First Class Medical Care for Travel Anywhere

Passport Health is the largest provider of travel medical services in the United States with convenient locations nationwide. Whether you are traveling for business or pleasure we can prepare you for your trip with destination-specific travel information, immunizations, travel shots, specialty travel products, and international travel health insurance in all our travel clinics.

Good Health. . . Don't Forget to Take It With You!

Exciting destinations, exotic foods, engaging customs. . . International travel, whether for personal or business reasons, can be challenging if you are not prepared. Disease, illness, crime, and injury happen unexpectedly to even the most experienced traveler. Planning for good health on an international trip is as important as buying tickets or obtaining a visa and passport. That is why Passport Health's mission is to provide information, travel vaccines, and travel medications for you, the international traveler.

Passport Health is a leading provider of travel health information and immunizations for international travelers, major corporations, universities and other international organizations. Our nationwide staff is comprised of professionals that include board-certified physicians and registered nurses who have completed rigorous training in the field of travel medicine and immunology. We are a state certified Yellow Fever vaccine provider.

Travel Health on your Mission Trip

2011-05-16T07:27:00.000-07:00

As a mission, volunteer or intercountry adoption traveler, you will be exposed to more risks than the average international vacationer. Typically you will be traveling to the more remote areas of underdeveloped countries. The sanitation, food preparations and health care will be sub-standard to what you are familiar with at home. Even the most careful traveler can become ill.
Expert Support for Mission or Volunteer Coordinators,
Team Leaders and Members
When planning a mission trip, it is important to include pre-trip medical preparations in your planning and budgeting. Passport Health's Travel Medicine Specialists will review with you the immunizations required and recommended for the area you will be visiting, based on the time of year, length of stay and your activities while you are there. Passport Health utilizes advice from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the US Department of State, the world's leaders in all areas of disease, outbreaks, warnings and knowledge of immunizations. Recommendations and requirements are constantly updated. At Passport Health, we monitor these conditions daily to ensure we give the best possible information to our travelers.

Many organizations do not include the upfront costs of immunizations in their planning, or ignore them all together. Team members should be up to date on all routine adult immunizations, such as Tetanus/Diphtheria, Hepatitis A and B, Measles/Mumps/Rubella, to name a few. This is in addition to the destination-specific travel immunizations needed. It is dangerous to ignore the importance of being immunized. Don't be fooled by 'No one got sick last time we traveled there.' The immunization cost is a fraction of what it will cost if just one person becomes sick or injured.

Passport Health can tailor a program and price options that fit your groups' needs and budget. It will include the information, routine and travel immunizations, medications and specialty travel health products.

Travelers receiving immunizations from Passport Health will receive an official immunization record to keep with his or her travel documents.

Passport Health also offers hard to find specialty travel health products. Many mission groups strongly encourage their team members to consider such products as they know they are some of the best on the market and not available once they've reached their destination.

The work performed by mission and volunteer travelers all over the world is so important and the rewards so fulfilling, illness or injury should not hinder a team's or individual member's ability to complete their assignment.

Experienced coordinators know proper planning for small or large groups means working early to get team members prepared. Passport Health is your one stop travel health planning partner.
Call us today for morre information 732-345-0029 or 800-741-0504
www.passporthealthni.com

Traveler Alert: Protection Against Malaria

2011-05-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

Malaria in humans is caused by one of four protozoan species. All species are transmitted by the bite of an infected female mosquito. Occasionally Malaria transmission occurs by blood transfusion or congenitally from mother to fetus.

Signs and Symptoms of Malaria
Malaria is characterized by fever and flu-like symptoms, including chills, headache, body aches and fatigue; these symptoms may occur at intervals. Malaria may be associated with anemia and jaundice, and may cause kidney failure, coma and death. Deaths due to Malaria are preventable. The estimated risk of a traveler acquiring Malaria varies markedly from area to area. A Passport Health Travel Medicine Specialist will help you to determine your risk and Malaria prevention measures.

Protective Measures Against Malaria
Because no currently available drug regimen guarantees 100\% protection against Malaria, prevention of infection requires taking antimalarial medication as directed in addition to prevention of mosquito bites. Mosquitoes that carry Malaria have nocturnal feeding habits, thus Malaria transmission occurs primarily between dusk and dawn. Measures to reduce mosquito contact during critical hours include:

•Remaining in well-screened or air conditioned areas
•Using mosquito nets treated with Permethrin
•Wearing clothing that covers most of the body and has been treated with Permethrin
•Using insect repellents containing appropriate levels of DEET
•Using insecticides in living and sleeping areas where appropriate
Passport Health carries CDC and WHO recommended insect repellents for purchase.

Antimalarial Drugs
Most antimalarials act in the bloodstream to suppress clinical symptoms by inhibiting parasite development in red blood cells. Regardless of duration of stay in a Malarious area, antimalarials should be taken by all travelers. The regime for all Malaria medications include the need to be taken before arrival, during the visit, and after departure from a Malaria risk area. This approach assures adequate blood levels of the drug, enables the traveler to switch to another drug in the event of side effects and gets the traveler in the habit of taking the drug on a regular basis. Because antimalarials do not actually prevent the disease, continued dosing with antimalarials after departure from an endemic area ensures that the drug will kill any lingering parasites. A Passport Health Travel Medicine Specialist will counsel you on recommended antimalaria medications specific to your travel destination. Antimalaria medications may be prescribed for you by the Travel Medicine Specialist and many locations may have antimalaria medications available for purchase.

Follow-Up
Regardless of the drug regimen used, it is still possible to contract Malaria during travel and to become ill following departure from a malarious area. Travelers should seek medical attention as soon as possible if a fever illness develops during a trip or the first year following exposure. Malaria may be fatal if treatment is delayed.

So, if you are asking yourself, "what travel shots do I need? or where to get the Malaria vaccine", call 732-345-0029 for your appointment today!
www.passporthealthnj.com

Tdap, Meningitis, Pneumonia and HPV Vaccines for only $40.00 at Passport Health in New Jersey

2011-05-03T07:57:00.000-07:00

Passport Health offices in East Brunswick, Lawrenceville, Morristown, and Shrewsbury are proud to be a part of the ARRA Vaccine program. Tdap, Meningitis, Pneumonia and HPV Vaccines are in stock and available.
The vaccines are provided by the Federal Government at no cost to New Jersey residents.
NJVFC children excluded
Passport Health will Charge an office visit fee of $23.36 plus an administration fee of $16.64
Total cost to recipient is $40.00

Menactra approved for ages 2-55 only
Menveo approved for ages 11-55 only
Pneumovax 23 approved for ages 2 and up
Tdap approved for ages Boostrix 10-64, Adacel 11-64
Gardasil ** approved for ages 9-26
Cervarix ** approved for ages 10-25

** indicates series necessary for optimal immunity.
$ 40. charge is per dose.

Passport Health is not a Medicare Provider and does no insurance billing or filing of forms.
Payment is by cash or credit card only( no Checks).
Medically coded receipts are provided.

1-800-741-0504
www.passporthealthnj.com
vaccineprograms@passporthealthnj.com

Protect your newborn, get yourself vaccinated

2011-05-02T07:05:00.000-07:00

Parents and family members are the primary source of pertussis transmission to vulnerable infants
It is estimated that up to 3.3 million cases of pertussis occur each year in adults and adolescents in the United States
Studies show that when the source can be identified, family members are the source of transmission in up to 83% of infant cases
With a household attack rate reaching 90% to 100%, pertussis is highly contagious
Despite CDCb recommendations, only 6% of adults reported receiving Tdap vaccine from 2005 through 2008
Immunization with Tdap vaccine may help protect adults and adolescents against pertussis, and help reduce the risk of transmission to vulnerable infants.
Call for your appointment today 732-345-0029 or 1-800-741-0504, www.passporthealthnj.com

Be protected from hepatitis A or hepatitis B infection

2011-04-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

What is TWINRIX?
TWINRIX is a vaccine for adults 18 years of age or older. It is injected into your upper arm muscle. It is used to help protect against hepatitis A and hepatitis B infections, which can affect the liver. TWINRIX may not fully protect everyone who receives the vaccine, especially those with immune system disorders. TWINRIX is not used for the “treatment” of hepatitis A or hepatitis B.
Who should get TWINRIX?
There are many things that could put you at risk for either hepatitis A or hepatitis B. You should talk to a healthcare provider to find out more.
How does TWINRIX work?
TWINRIX works by causing the body to produce its own protection (antibodies) that prevent hepatitis A and hepatitis B virus infection. The vaccine cannot give you a hepatitis A or hepatitis B infection.
What are the benefits of using TWINRIX?
TWINRIX provides protection against two of the most common forms of hepatitis, hepatitis A and hepatitis B, through a single vaccine series. You can get separate shots for hepatitis A and hepatitis B, but that would mean a total of 5 shots in 4 visits to a healthcare provider. With the standard schedule for TWINRIX, you only need 3 shots in 3 visits to Passport Health

Travel Alert! Malaria

2011-04-26T09:37:00.000-07:00

Each year, more than 250 million cases of malaria are reported worldwide, killing between one and 3 million people. 90% of malaria-related deaths take place in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Torres Strait Islands (Australia) 5 cases have been reported recently. In Mumbai India 137 cases have been reported since April 2010 to present. In Andhra Pradesh India 2 deaths have been reported this year and 311 cases were reported in February alone. In the city of Quillabamba, Peru 9 cases have been recently reported. Rizal Philippines is usually considered a low risk area, however about 200 cases and 2 deaths were reported in 2010. In South Africa 2 deaths were reported in Limpopo Province recently. In Sri Lanka there have been 580 cases reported in the last year; spread of the disease has increased by 25%. In Swaziland over 20 cases have been reported so far this year. Tropical malaria manifests with flu-like symptoms and high fever. It is recommended to use prophylactic anti-malarial medications as well as mosquito repellents containing DEET on exposed skin and Permethrin on outer clothing, mosquito netting and bedding.
Call Passport Health today for an appointment 1-800-741-0504 www.passporthealthnj.com

Meningitis Vaccine for School

2011-04-25T08:49:00.000-07:00

New Jersey requires meningitis vaccination for all first-time four-year college and university students living on campus.
All first-time college and university students who are living on campus must be vaccinated against meningitis.
Passport Health Offices in Lawrenceville, Morristown, East Brunswick and Shrewsbury, New Jersey have the vaccine available to New Jersey residents through a federally funded program for a total cost of $40.00
Call for your appointment today. 1-800-741-0504
www.passporthealthnj.com

Travel Alert Japan post earthquake-tsunami

2011-04-22T09:20:00.000-07:00

March 11, 2011 Japan was hit by an 8.9 earthquake and tsunami. Flood waters and standing waters pose various risks, including infectious diseases, chemical hazards, and injuries. Increased incidence of Diarrheal diseases, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Polio, Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis, and Measles, Mumps, Rubella can arise after a natural disaster. Radiation is also a risk in Japan now. The adverse health effects of radiation exposure can range from mild effects, such as skin reddening, to serious effects such as cancer and death, depending on the amount of radiation absorbed by the body, the type of radiation, the route of exposure, and the length of time a person was exposed. Travelers should be aware and properly protected before traveling to Japan. In January 2010, Haiti was hit by a 7.0 earthquake. It is estimated that 230,000 people died and 300,000 people were injured. Cholera was first detected in October 2010, and to date 3759 deaths have been reported. The outbreak is expected to continue for a period of years unless the current poor water and sanitation conditions are resolved. Increased incidence of Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Polio, Hepatitis A & B, Meningitis, Tuberculosis and Measles, Mumps, Rubella have been reported. Even before the earthquake, Haiti had the highest tuberculosis rate in the Americas. In normal times, Haiti sees about 30,000 new cases of tuberculosis each year. Dengue Fever and Malaria are both endemic in Haiti. Travelers should be aware and properly protected against present diseases in Haiti.

Yellow Fever What is it?

2011-03-30T11:16:00.000-07:00

Yellow Fever is preventable by a safe, effective vaccine. International regulations require proof of Yellow Fever vaccination for travel to and from certain countries. For purposes of international travel, Yellow Fever vaccine must be approved by the World Health Organization and administered by an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Center. Passport Health is an approved Yellow Fever Vaccination Center. After obtaining the vaccine you will receive an International Certificate of Vaccination (ICV) completed, signed and validated with the official stamp. Because Yellow Fever vaccine is very safe and the disease risk is high, the CDC recommends this vaccine for adults and children over 9 months who will be traveling to high-risk areas.

Reactions to the vaccine are generally mild. Two percent to five percent of vaccines have mild headaches, body aches and a low-grade fever, or other minor symptoms several days after vaccination. Immediate hypersensitivity reactions, such as rash, are uncommon and occur mostly in persons with a history of egg allergy.

Protection Against Yellow Fever
It is important to remember barrier methods, as there may still be a risk of contracting other mosquito-borne illnesses. Passport Health's controlled release insect repellent contains DEET in the appropriate concentrations for use on exposed body parts. Travelers should reduce skin exposure and use mosquito netting whilst asleep. Permethrin should be applied to clothing and netting for added protection.
www.passporthealthnj.com
800-741-0504

On Site Travel Medicine Clinics

2011-02-07T08:39:00.000-08:00

Have more than a few people traveling to the same destination? Passport Health will come on-site to your company, school, church, or other organization to deliver the same quality care you experience in any of our offices. Our on-site clinical team can provide a full and comprehensive line of services including all vaccines, required paperwork, consent forms, vaccine information sheets, record keeping, payment and disposal of medical waste.

If requested, our staff can work with you to develop promotional materials, such as email messages, brochures or posters, well in advance to help you promote attendance at your clinic.

Our Travel Medicine Specialists are well versed in vaccines and can adapt a program to suite your specific needs. Employers have little more to do than select a date and provide us with a space to vaccinate.

Stop by and say hello at the Travel Show

2011-01-23T03:38:00.000-08:00

For those of you who want to get out into the world today, Passport Health will be at the Philadelphia Enquirer Travel Show at the Convention Center.
We are located in the ATA booth. So come by and pickup some great information about Passport Health.

Passport Health to Attend The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show

2011-01-21T14:18:00.000-08:00

Friday, January 21, 2011
Passport Health to Attend The Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show

1/21/2011- Passport Health’s Executive Director for New Jersey, Philadelphia and the Delaware Valley, Mr. Ken Bear, New Business Development and Marketing Director, Mr. Robert Socha,as well as members of the clinical staff will be attending the Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show this weekend at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.

“We are proud to be representing Passport Health as a national travel medicine entity at the Philadelphia Inquirer Travel Show this weekend.” Stated Ken Bear. “We look forward to establishing connections with other great businesses in the travel industry.”

They will be among several hundred other travel enthusiasts and travel promoters including the Africa Travel Association (ATA) of which Passport Health’s Corporate Director of Business Development, Jorge Castillo, is an international board member.

“We are working together with the ATA to promote safe travel into the African Continent, and all destinations around the globe”, stated Mr. Castillo. “In addition to serving hundreds of thousands of travelers to countries like India, China, Brazil and Mexico, we are cognizant of the opening of the African Continent. American companies are beginning to move into Africa. Most recently Massmart, South Africa’s third largest retailer with operations in 14 African nations approved Wal-mart’s bid to purchase 51% of its shares.”

“We are prepared and ready to continue to provide our clients with the best pre-departure medical care whether they are traveling for business, leisure or to volunteer. Our goal is to assure that each traveler is well informed and immunized so that his/her trip is a complete success,” he concluded.

Passport Health has 170 locations nationwide, including several in Center City Philadelphia, the Greater Philadelphia area and New Jersey.

For more information, please call 800-741-0504, or visit http://www.passporthealthphilly.com

Varicella Vaccine

2010-12-03T11:02:00.000-08:00

Chickenpox is a common childhood disease in the U. S.; however it is an adult disease in many tropical climates. Traveling adults should consider vaccination if they have not had the disease. People raised in tropical or subtropical areas now working in or visiting the U.S. who have not had the disease or been previously vaccinated should also consider vaccination. Proof of vaccination against Chickenpox is now required for immigration into the U.S

Travel Evacuation Insurance

2010-11-29T16:07:00.000-08:00

The BAD NEWS: Did you know? Most medical insurance plans aren't accepted when you travel internationally. Many foreign hospitals require patients to demonstrate ability to pay before treatment is started. Unfortunately this can result in delayed treatment and high medical bills for individuals who thought they were covered.

The GOOD NEWS: Passport Health has found the best deals on travel insurance. You can even print your insurance ID card immediately! No watching the mail and hoping your card arrives before you depart. From medical coverage and emergency evacuation to trip cancelation and lost baggage we've got you covered. The 24 hour assistance service with a toll free phone number provides immediate assistance if you forget your medication or need care at a local medical facility. The assistance center will make arrangements for your care and for payment of medical expenses. This service is essential while traveling abroad.

It's fast and easy. Why not get a quote for your next trip and take along the additional peace of mind. You will be pleasantly surprised at the very affordable pricing.

SteriPEN

2010-11-26T13:51:00.001-08:00

Named one of the best inventions of 2001 by TIME magazine, the SteriPEN zaps and sterilizes a 16-oz. cup of water in less than a minute with ultraviolet light that eliminates over 99.9% of viruses, bacteria and protozoa that cause waterborne illness. The best part is that it doesn't need to be plugged in. It's portable, packable and powered by AA batteries

Passport Health offices stock the full line of SteriPen Products.

Meningitis Vaccine

2010-11-18T06:39:00.000-08:00

Meningococcal disease is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis in teens. Meningitis is a dangerous inflammation of the lining of the brain and spinal cord that usually results from viruses or bacteria. Not all types of meningitis can be prevented with vaccines. Fortunately, immunization does protect against four types of meningococcal disease.

Why do teens need a meningococcal vaccine?
Of the 1,000- 2,600 people who get meningococcal disease each year, one-third are teens and young adults. Ten percent to 15% of those who get sick with the disease will die, even with antibiotic treatment. Up to 20% will have permanent side effects, such as hearing loss or brain damage. This is why immunization against meningococcal disease so important. It can help prevent this serious disease.

Please take a few minutes and watch this video

Pneumonia Vaccine

2010-11-17T05:54:00.000-08:00

Passport Health offices in New Jersey have the Pneumonia Vaccine Available to New Jersey Residents for Just $40.00 ( NJVFC excluded)

According to the CDC people over 65, people with weakened immune systems, and people with chronic diseases such as heart or lung disease or diabetes should be vaccinated.

Check out this Video from the CDC about the benefit of being vaccinated.

Listen to your Mama and get your flu shot

2010-11-16T05:55:00.000-08:00

Passport Health offices in New Jersey and the greater Philadelphia area have the Seasonal Flu Vaccine, including Flumist, High Dose, and Preservative free vaccine.

So Listen to your Mama!
Call 1-800-741-0504 and make an appointment today to get yourself and your family Vaccinated.

www.passporthealthnj.com

www.passporthealthphilly.com

vaccineprograms@passporthealthnj.com

post_master@passporthealthphilly.com

What is Whooping Cough (Pertussis)

2010-11-15T06:13:00.000-08:00

We at Passport Health are happy to provide this link to an informative video produced by the Cleavland Clinic. Dr Ellen Rome discusses whooping cough symptoms and Prevention.
Adult immunizations are a crucial part of keeping a family protected.

Passport Health Offices in Lawrenceville, Morristown, East Brunswick, and Shrewsbury, NJ
have the vaccine in stock and available through a great program.
Please call today 1-800-741-0504 ask about the ARRA vaccine program, and schedule your appointment.

http://www.passporthealthnj.com/

vaccineprograms@passporthealthnj.com

ARRA Vaccine Available

2010-11-14T12:56:00.000-08:00

1-800-741-0504
http://www.passporthealthnj.com/
vaccineprograms@passporthealthnj.com

Passport Health offices in East Brunswick, Lawrenceville, Morristown, and Shrewsbury are proud to be a part of the ARRA Vaccine program. Tdap, Meningitis, Pneumonia and HPV Vaccines are in stock and available.
The vaccines are provided by the Federal Government at no cost to New Jersey residents.
NJVFC eligible children excluded
Passport Health will Charge an office visit fee of $23.36 plus an administration fee of $16.64
Total cost to recipient is $40.00
Clients must ask for the ARRA program vaccine when making an appointment

Menactra approved for ages 2-55 only
Menveo approved for ages 11-55 only
Pneumovax 23 approved for ages 2 and up
Tdap approved for ages Boostrix 10-64, Adacel 11-64
Gardasil ** approved for ages 9-26
Cervarix ** approved for ages 10-25

** indicates series necessary for optimal immunity.
$ 40. charge is per dose.

Passport Health is not a Medicare Provider and does no insurance billing or filing of forms.
Payment is by cash or credit card only (No Checks).
Medically coded receipts are provided.

Fourth of July

2010-07-02T07:16:00.000-07:00

Sometimes travelling "locally" for a major US holiday takes even longer than an international flight. There are a lot of options on Independence Day for people living in our New Jersey, Philly, New York area. But don't let that confuse you: you have got to plan ahead or you're *dead.*

Oh what fond memories I had as a child, walking into the heart of Red Bank, to find a strip of fold-up chairs and my grandparents. Or what's even better, the fact that we all wore "Fourth of July 199X," when my little brother still couldn't walk and when zeppoli's didn't house any deep seated fear of lipid overload. And while I'm waxing sentimental, now would be a good time to mention the traffic. Oh, yes.

With glow rings and necklaces and all, I still remember the trudge from one side of RB to the other. By the end of the night, my hands hurt when I squeezed them (must have been the hot dogs). But we always made a point to do it, even when it was hot, crowded, and I'm sure, expensive. Being a kid on the 4th of July isn't really about travelling to a never-before-seen destination; the best part was being happy, with my family, right in the place where we spent our summers, our lives, together.

But don't *EVER* take the train home after. It's utter madness.

how to travel on a student's budget: May in Montreal

2010-06-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

Student travel is a huge industry: from Semesters at Sea to a Summer in Greece, universities around the country participate in international exchange programs that enhance student study. Every location has its natural benefits for certain students (I wrote about my friend who went to Bolivia last summer for Social Justice and another who just returned from South Africa for engineering.)

But for the student who isn't able to travel formally with a university, whether constraints are money or time based, all students can find a way to live the adventurous lifestyle they want without breaking the bank (or the calendar).

Montreal, from The Metropark Amtrak station, is a 10 hour trip. (I've had friends who've driven there in 8 hours... but the driver ended up with a $90 dollar speeding ticket from a NY State Trooper, I do not advise.) Prices aren't horrible, especially compared to what an international flight runs on average. And let me tell you, Montreal really is a European treasure on the North American Continent. And don't let anyone hear you say Mon-TREE-all, especially if you're exercsing that nice and rusty high school French, it's pronounced Mon-reah-al (with accent on the "r" if you can manage a throat slurring).

Old Montreal is where the traditional European vibe is, with a ton of great local pubs and plenty of museums to visit. In that district there are also a lot of independent artisans and vendors who make art by hand. I found a beautiful blue glass ring that I'm wearing right now!

One of the most spectacular views comes from the heart of the city's mountain, properly called Mount Royal. The city is actually an island, so the middle is the highest point for miles around. In French, if you say Montreal (as my expert pronunciation directions suggest) fast enough, and for long enough, you start to hear "Mont Royal," and *ahh* it is all becoming clear to me!

Personally, I would always opt for hostel stays if you're with five or six friends because most places have cabin-like rooms with that many beds, so you'll effectively share a huge room (often with a bathroom attached) for a fraction of the cost as if you'd each gotten your own room. I've seen prices as low as $24 (US) a night, and it's been well worth it.

One of the top spots during the day was the Botanical Gardens, filled with absolutely beautiful varieties of domestic and exotic species of flowers, shrubs, and trees. In the gift shop area, there's an artist who makes his own clay figurines from hand. The details on my baby panda were incredible, there were even claws on his tiny black paws and every grass stem was rolled and assembled on its own. The clay isn't baked, but is left to dry naturally; the figurines hold all of their color and you can often get things custom made.

Food is another one of Montreal's notable treats, and not just French-style cafes or seven-course dinners (of which there are many awesome options). Actually, one of the best meals was a Greek place just a few blocks from the hostel, a delicious gyro was only four bucks!

Late night fun (after the bars close), there are lots of little crepe houses that are open 24/7, it was the best way to end a really long and terrific night! Anyway, the point is, with all of these activities, and all the friends to be made in this uber-social and friendly atmosphere, all in all, a five-day trip is manageable with $300.

So, if you're looking for a great adventure this summer, take a trip to Montreal with some buds, your significant other, hey... why not even take your parents? Or, you know, maybe next time.

World Cup: Many Travel to South Africa, But My Friend Comes Home

2010-06-13T21:52:00.000-07:00

I've got to admit, travelling back to New Jersey from a four-month stint in South Africa has to feel great and terrible just about now. For my friend John, it's great for us to see him, for John, it's terrible because his flight took off approximately 48 hours before the start of the World Cup. But there are thousands of people who have traveled with their national team of choice, and millions around the globe who are participating in one of the most unifying traditions. Soccer has been a historical value for peace, like in Nigeria in 1969 during that country's civil war; in many more nuanced ways, soccer in 2010 is subtly rebuilding damaged international relationships that the United States has had in the past with other parts of the world.

Michael Washington says, "I think that the US team in the World Cup this year really marks an official foray of soccer into the American life. In many ways, it unites us with the rest of the world, and with ourselves in ways that we have up until now, largely ignored were there."

It's true, soccer opens up modes of social interaction and communication between most all groups in the world: one of my friends told me that one of his fondest childhood memories was a vacation to Jamaica when he met two British and Mexican kids playing on a field; although verbal communication was somewhat limited, the power of the game had united them as friends for the duration of the stay.

So, whether or not you're in South Africa or watching the games on tv, there are many health-benefits of an international vacation, especially if it's on the game-field interface.

Summer Stress and Travel

2010-05-17T05:55:00.000-07:00

In college, the weather really has nothing to do with the beginning of summer. It could be fifty-seven degrees out, and there will be troupes of beach-ready grads and undergrads, diligently laying in the cold windy air-- "soaking up the sun." This isn't just a habit born out of irresponsibility: Oh. no. This is a habit built on the tradition of grade-posting.

"Yeah... grades getting posted are stressful and nerve racking, but it's better than finals because I can access all of that anxiety about something that matters without having to study anymore. It is Christmas morning every morning for a few days, but slightly more demented," says one up-and-coming senior.

I wasn't completely sold on this highly artificial season-break in the beginning of May, but it seems to hold water, especially since I myself was at the beach (water was around 60 degrees) yesterday.

Well, yes, there is a point to all of this: the most important thing to remember about the end of the school year is that we can all go a little crazy by the middle of this month, and that whatever you decide to do to burn off steam, make sure you take some precautionary measures if you're traveling to a new place, whether it's a city with alternate water sources or a different country with a whole separate bacteria lexicon.

When the human body undergoes mental and physical stress, it's no secret that it's often weakened by that experience and sometimes the "leisure" activities that we reward ourselves with (flying to see a friend in Mexico on a 2am flight after finals) can often drain our systems even further if we don't take proper care to secure our bodily surroundings.

I know a couple (John and Ali) who decided to woof for the summer on a farm in Hawaii. ("Woofing" is a term that describes farming on land for room and board.) They're living in a tree house and are both really excited, set to leave within 24 hours of their last final. Even though they're staying within the United States, without an already-healthy immune system, they'd be almost certain to contract illness in the environment.

"We're bringing a water purifying pen and some re-hydration salts for the first few days, just to make sure," John says.

This summer, wherever you travel, keep a close eye on your physical health. If you're traveling to a foreign country, make sure you are aware of your stress level, your sleep level, and your food intake; these are simple ways to insure that your body will make a seamless transition into your summertime environment. For everything else, there's Passport Health.

Spring Break!

2010-02-22T14:47:00.000-08:00

Have you made your plans for spring break 2010? If you haven't... well get to work! And if you have, make sure you call us at Passport Health and make sure you have all the necessary vaccinations. Even if you're staying in the continental United States, it is important that you consider receiving the H1N1 vaccine since most facilities will be crowded. Especially if you plan on staying in a hostel (in the US or abroad) you should update any shots that you've been putting off.

Travel to any tropical or sub-tropical zone obviously requires its fair share of education and preparation. Visit our websites and give us a call; depending on your area, we have several locations that might best fit your schedule!

http://www.passporthealthusa.com/new-jersey/
http://www.passporthealthphilly.com/

Have a great spring break!

Passport Health in Center City, "we'd love to see you!"

2010-01-28T06:57:00.000-08:00

I blogged a little bit about Passport Health's Pennsylvania offices, including our location in Center City Philadelphia. We're loving it here! And we've never wanted to see you more. Aside from our Philadelphia location, we also have offices in Warrington and Lawrenceville. Visit our website http://www.passporthealthphilly.com/ to pre-fill your patient intake forms and to learn more about us, as well as your travel destinations. Once again, PPH Delaware Valley/Philadelphia serves the following communities:

Ardmore, Abington, Ambler, Arcola, Aston, Audubon, Bala Cynwyd, Bedminster, Bensalem, Blooming Glen, Blue Bell, Bridgeport, Bristol, Brookhaven, Broomall, Bryn Athyn, Bryn Mawr, Buckingham, Carversville, Cedars, Chadds Ford, Chalfont, Cheltenham, Chester, Chester Heights, Cheyney, Clifton Heights, Collegeville, Colmar, Concordville, Conshohocken, Coopersburg, Creamery, Croydon, Crum Lynne, Danboro, Darby, Doylestown, Dresher, Drexel Hill, Dublin, Durham, Eagleville, Earlington, East Greenville, Elkins Park, Erwinna, Essington, Fairless Hills, Fairview Village, Feasterville Trevose, Ferndale, Flourtown, Folcroft, Folsom, Forest Grove, Fort Washington, Fountainville, Franconia, Frederick, Furlong, Gardenville, Gilbertsville, Gladwyne, Glen Mills, Glen Riddle Lima, Glenolden, Glenside, Gradyville, Green Lane, Gwynedd, Gwynedd Valley, Harleysville, Hatboro, Hatfield, Haverford, Havertown, Hilltown, Holicong, Holmes, Horsham, Huntingdon Valley, Jamison, Jenkintown, King Of Prussia, Kintnersville, Kulpsville, Lafayette Hill, Lahaska, Langhorne, Lansdale, Lansdowne, Lederach, Lenni, Levittown, Line Lexington, Lumberville, Mainland, Marcus Hook, Mechanicsville, Media, Merion Station, Milford Square, Mont Clare, Montgomeryville, Morrisville, Morton, Narberth, New Hope, Newtown, Norristown, North Wales, Norwood, Oaks, Oreland, Ottsville, Penns Park, Pennsburg, Perkasie, Perkiomenville, Philadelphia, Pineville, Pipersville, Plumsteadville, Plymouth Meeting, Point Pleasant, Pottstown, Prospect Park, Quakertown, Red Hill, Revere, Richboro, Richlandtown, Ridley Park, Riegelsville, Royersford, Rushland, Salford, Salfordville, Sassamansville, Schwenksville, Sellersville, Sharon Hill, Silverdale, Skippack, Solebury, Souderton, Southampton, Spinnerstown, Spring House, Spring Mount, Springfield, Springtown, Sumneytown, Swarthmore, Telford, Thornton, Trumbauersville, Tylersport, Upper Black Eddy, Upper Darby, Valley Forge, Villanova, Wallingford, Warminster, Warrington, Washington Crossing, Wayne, West Point, Willow Grove, Woodlyn, Worcester, Woxall, Wycombe, Wyncote, Wynnewood, Zieglerville, Zionhill

Groundhog Day's Upon Us, Feel the Joy

2010-01-20T11:27:00.000-08:00

There are more reasons than one to chose a local getaway in the Northeast or New York City than a major trip to the other side of the world. Leaving the majesty abroad out of the equation for a moment, sometimes we just need a little break from the stress of holiday cheer (that's now most assuredly rubbed off into something like a sore back and maybe some extra weight!) and winter winds.
I don't know if you know this... and why would you? but we are about to stumble onto one of the best holidays of the year. It's a shy little day, with lots of understated majesty: and that day falls on one of the most brilliant and enthusiastic days of the week (oh you didn't know the days of the week had their own moods?...) TUESDAY!!!!

Oh, okay, you're not really excited about Groundhog's Day? Well, anyway. This February 2nd is 2010's mirror into the future, if you will, the first hope for spring time. And Between this date, which unfortunately falls on a Tuesday, and Valentine's day (that other holiday that fosters more ambivalence than ignorance) on Sunday February 14th block out the perfect constraints for a festival.

And by festival, maybe we mean a weekend skiing in New York or Vermont; maybe it's a weekend in Boston (I know, these are for the lovers of snow and ice). There are buses that run to all of these locations that are cheap and convenient (most all run from NY and Phily). If you are desperate for some sun and are willing to pay slightly more, most airlines are running winter specials to either FLA or the Carolinas. Long weekend, lover, or groundhog... you should think about it.

Stay tuned, Groundhog's Day dinner festival (d.i.y. style) to come!

Worldbloc

Helping in Haiti

2010-01-14T13:47:00.000-08:00

Doctors Without Borders is in a league of its own when it comes to helping out in times of crisis, (not to mention in times of "peace"). DWB is forwarding 100% of donated funds received to the relief efforts in Haiti. But their presence in that country is not a novel one: in fact, before the earthquake, DWB ran the only OBGYN and the only trauma ward in the capital city. While there are many volunteers on their way to Haiti, DWB and its volunteers have an established rapport with citizens and are working around the clock, as all relief and mission workers there now are.

Doctors Without Borders is first among equals in the endeavor to aid one of the world's poorest populations as they are well positioned on the ground. What they do need, however, is financial support. And that is where you, I, and everyone else who can spare even a nickel come in to play. Thank you for your support.

Please Help in Haiti: Donate to Doctors Wihout Borders

2010-01-13T17:40:00.000-08:00

After the breaking news yesterday that Haiti suffered a massive earthquake, the reports of even greater suffering and need in Haiti continue to pour in. Our thoughts and prayers go out to those travelers but also citizens affected on this solemn day. But in an effort to help out our global neighbors, Passport Health New Jersey has added a "Support Doctors without Borders in Haiti" botton on the right hand column of our website or click the button below; please visit and help. Thank you,

Passport Health New Jersey

Why H1N1 and not "Swine Flu"?

2010-01-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

There has been a lot of discussion about H1N1 over the last 10 months, or so. But before it was referred to by its real name, the H1N1 virus, it was commonly called the "Swine Flu" virus. Now, there are a lot of reasons why this name has been propagated, and most of the responsibility falls on the 24-hour media apparatus that so invades our vocabulary. The term "swine" flu, without a doubt increases the sense of urgency, the sense of unhygienic and latent danger that catapulted so many in our area to protect themselves against the virus.

And of course, Passport Health does provide those services and vaccines that protect the individual from the very real medical threat of the H1N1 virus. But we are asking you to think about the way "swine" flu has twisted off the base of concrete-medical concern and latches on to the average person's fear via the very disgraceful and bigoted assumptions in language that Swine flu fosters.

If the reader would, remember the panic that the out-break of H1N1 created. Now, remember that most news sources referred to it by its nickname Swine Flu, remember that it had "originated" in Mexico and made its way to North America... (of course, it did *not* originate in Mexico, but rather in Asia; we will not dwell on this fact, however).

It takes a rather large philosophical investment for a reader to argue that the connection between "swine flu" and Mexico did not already target some very sensitive (albeit unsaid, latently anticipated) connections between the word "Mexican" and the word "swine."

To make matters all the more apparent, the common belief was that travelers had brought the virus into the United States after vacationing... or was it a Mexican immigrant, himself? Anyway, the virus was originally transmitted from the pig to the person in Mexico (furthering this all but unsaid social comment on the cleanliness of the Mexican population), had incubated in the south and spread disease among the Americans in the north. See any parallels to many economic "dispositions"?

Of course, implicitly offensive terms like Swine Flu trickle down through the news sources that most of the population rely on for their information, and it is used day in and day out, just like any other term, until the public "forgets" its real content and implications, and denies any real malevolence in the phrase. This is understandable to a degree, since the average public never meant to use it as an offensive parallel;

but if the reader will notice that around late summer, the media began to alter its reference--from Swine Flu to H1N1. Now, whether this is a tactic to make the same old story (still dangerous, in fact, more likely to upsurge) sound new via a "new" name, or due to the obviously bigoted connations, Swine Flu for a large part became H1N1.

The sad thing is, this difference in terminology in the media does not mean a conversion in terminology for the general public. Now, if anything, the two words are used interchangeably, and often together.

I don't think this is a matter of being "politically correct," but to be sure we live in a politically correct time. I will leave you with twp last questions, however; is it so wrong to wish that people did not accept the offensive and bigoted terms passed down by news sources attempting to sell a permanent brand of national panic?

Is it so outlandish to think that the apparatus that most people openly acknowledge to purposefully propagate a continuous feeling of "high-drama news" that it would *not* implicitly build its story on the already-existing political tensions of national immigration and local employment by specifically linking the concept of Mexican swine and American security?

Is it really so nuts to attempt to respect everyone? If that makes Passport Health "p.c." well, then that's okay by us.

Protect Yourself Against the H1N1 Virus in 2010

2010-01-02T08:11:00.000-08:00

In case you didn't know, the H1N1 vaccine is now available for all individuals who wish to protect themselves against the virus. Many people in our community have said things like "it's so hard to find out about clinics! I didn't even know I was eligible for vaccination..."

In fact, many people have commented on the decreased public demand for the vaccination; "I think it has a lot to do with the media's portrayal of the H1N1--at first it was all the craze to talk about, but now the news has really dropped its coverage of the issue," says one participant at one of our clinics.

But that doesn't mean risk has gone down, in reality, times of decreased awareness lead to increased exposure and a resurgence in infection.

And Passport Health makes it more accessible in 2010 for you and your family to stay safe! Aside from flu.gov (where we post our clinics) Passport Health of Shrewsbury is running walk-in clinics ever Tuesday for the next month between 1PM and 4PM. No appointment necessary!

Seasonal and FluMist vaccine also available. Make sure you plan a pit-stop to our Shrewsbury office.

Happy New Year!

I'm dreaming of a white... new year?

2009-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:00

Hello world! It's New Year's Eve 2009. The dawn of a new year, a new decade is upon us... what better way to celebrate this new epoch and shovel snow, salt the driveway, and snuggle-up indoors? It might not be the most glamorous of get-togethers, but that's 2009 for you. There are two important factors in what we might call "everyday life" that have really made their way to the surface this year and these are fear and triumph.

It doesn't take much, I'm sure, to get you to think about what made you fearful this year. (There was quite a lot...) Not to use blanket statements that have lost meaning, but "the economy" was a huge stresser. For most people this broke down to- can we provide for our family? what will the future hold... does it matter if I make the right decisions now if they'll all be blown away in a day? Will my family be safe from disease; will they be healthy?
And then came the big questions, the questions that we don't like to ask ourselves- why did I take "the safe route" in my job, where I lived, when it all came apart anyway? Why didn't I do more of what I dreampt of and less of what I did because I was so stuck in the moment? Am I happy with my life, with my choices, with my dreams?

That is the fear. And I don't care if you're 87 or you're 30, these questions crept into our everyday life in an unprecedented way and shook the foundations on which we lived.
Now I don't want to transition into an unbelievable pep-talk and make all the world's problems appear as rosy shadows in the summer. Because these are still *big* issues that we have to face as a collective. The only viable alternative to our consumption through fear is triumph.

Triumph means living, dreaming, fighting for a better life no matter what the consequences might be. Triumph means living in the moment and making decisions based on intellect, commitment to a fuller life, and embracing the unknown in spite of everyday fear.
This is to say, if 2009 brought on the fear, then ring in the new decade with triumph. A triumphant life means more than pursuing emotional wisdom, travelling to the far reaches of Africa or Asia for entertainment (although these are great places to go!). A triumphant life, no matter how you cut it, boils down to your personal commitment to self-education.

If you're not happy with the messages that the media forces down your throat, find new sources of information. Read a philosophy book even if it's too difficult for you to understand. Write poetry even if it's bad, travel to the other side of the world and let yourself see what is really there... maybe it will help you understand what's really going on around here.

New Year's, no matter the cliche, is one of the rare times in life that we are invited to contemplate in our society. This year, at the conclusion of yet another decade, dare to ask yourself the real questions.

Maybe it means losing control of the everyday routine, maybe it means a mission-trip, maybe it means quitting your job and living off savings for a year in order to paint pinecones in Vermont.

I challenge you to listen to what you've really been telling yourself all along.
Maybe a night in is a good idea...
Happy New Year from all of us at Passport Health, I challenge you to make it the best one yet.

Signing off,

Worldbloc

It's confirmed!

2009-12-04T19:52:00.000-08:00

The date of the H1N1 clinic at the Pennington Quality Market will be Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 between 4 and 7pm.

Please visit the PQM to sign up!

Upcoming Clinics!

2009-11-23T20:14:00.000-08:00

This Friday, Passport Health is kicking off the holiday (and flu!) season with an H1N1 flu clinic at its Shrewsbury location. The clinic will begin at 10AM and will run through 1PM. Limited quantities are available, so make sure you email PPHNJ and sign up!

(See below for our email contact!)

All recipients must be over the age of six months old and must meet all of the CDC requirements (listed in previous post as well as on the CDC website).

The Shrewsbury clinic is first come first serve; the vaccination is free but there is a $22 administration fee.

But! There's good news! If you're not located near the Shrewsbury area office, we're coming to you! Passport Health will hold another H1N1 Flu Clinic in early December; same stipulations are applicable to recipients. Stay tuned for details.

There will be a pre-registration for the PQM at their location, beginning this Saturday.

And schedule an appointment to protect yourself and those you love from the flu this holiday season! Don't forget, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Email us! h1n1clinics@passporthealthnj.com

No phone calls, please!

Passport Health New Jersey
555 Shrewsbury Ave
Shrewsbury, NJ
07702

(photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristaroesinger/3062705245/)

What do to when you're feeling the Thanksgivings

2009-11-19T11:20:00.000-08:00

You might be thinking... "what? I don't have the pre-holiday blues." In fact, many people don't even know what they are: at least, they think they don't. But they do; oh, we all do.

Picture it (Oh I do love the Golden Girls...) November 19th, 2009. Only days until the largest travel day of the year, the day that expects the biggest appetite of the year, followed by the craziest holiday kick-off. Oh sure, everyone is more than happy to take some time off with the kids, the parents, the siblings, etc.

It's different every year... but strangely similar:

You were going to leave on Tuesday night, but you waited too long on the phone confirming Uncle Eddie's schedule for the airport pick-up... "Uncle Eddie, Mom? No; where's Dad?" and you miss that boat with the cheaper, shorter, infinitely more relaxed travel cohort.

The train is running late and there's a light drizzle in the New York Area. Lovely-and the terminal is choked up with tourists from Canada and some guy from Topeka, Kansas who says he knows you from somewhere; "right, no, I don't think so... I've never been," you say.

But this is to no avail. Said man follows you into the airport convenience queue and freaks out over the price of deodorant, causing a scene and leaving behind his hat.

Cut to: shoving duffle bag in the over-head compartments, nearly falling backwards into the air attendant behind you. You look at him, he looks at you and artfully traces your bag, your disturbance, to the cockpit.

There is a symphony of foot-tappers, sighers, and baby-criers.

Stuffy flight; balding graduate student in "telekenetic poluphonics" does his best intellectual impression leg cross. The finale's at touch-down as your ears pop, "can I get your number? Maybe we'll grab a celebratory cerebral sip of some concoction; how long are you in the Chicago area?"

...Not short enough.

[You don't even want to know how bad the traffic was... luckily Dad got you, though.]

Suddenly, you find yourself locked into a strange time-warped paradigm: the game *must* be on (Uncle Eddie must snore on the couch), Mom is sipping wine a little too diligently in the kitchen (and adding *those* walnuts to the stuffing... once again!) Your teenage cousin is old enough to get to know but too young to leave his cave in the basement with the other bears. Of course you are the one sent out on Wednesday night (after your flight, of course) with your sister's awkward boyfriend for tuna... wait tuna?

"Yes, for the cat."

Oh. Right; it's almost enough to forgo the pumpkin pie.

That's the Thanksgivings. I said *almost* enough to forgo the pumpkin pie... but it is ultimately redeemable.

You lose the phone number from the creepy quasi intellectual (did he give you a pack of peanuts with that napkin?) Take a deep breath, sit down, listen to Aunt Toni ramble about her glass earrings from Montreal. Look down at Freckles, eating his tuna in the corner.

Yeah, family isn't half bad, either.

Swine Flu Updates

2009-11-15T18:52:00.000-08:00

As our Philly offices anxiously awaits the arrival of its H1N1 Flu vaccines, Passport Health has made quick and diligent work of protecting New Jersey against the harmful and quite unnerving virus. Just yesterday, Passport Health administered vaccinations at Pennington Quality Market--around 500 H1N1 vaccinations were given out.

As of November 10th, there have been two confirmed deaths related to H1N1, and many more cases. If you or your child are in the high risk groups for contracting the virus, it is imperative that you seek out immunization as soon as possible. According to federal regulations, the criteria for high-risk are the following:

Age: Children up to young adults (24 years old); this group is especially at risk because of its close quarters in schools and universities.
Occupation: healthcare workers and care providers for young children are also strongly recommended to receive the vaccine.
Health Conditions: individuals with health ailments and women who are pregnant should receive the H1N1 vaccine.

But, these high-risk groups aren't alone in facing the H1N1: it has even made its way to the New Jersey Nets! Goes to show that you can never be too prepared--it could happen to anyone.

There have been numerous cases at the universities in New Jersey. Rutgers, the largest university in the state, has had an outbreak in recent weeks. (I go there, and you can't imagine how glad I was to be vaccinated in my French class last week when I heard the guy next to me whisper over my head "yeah... Swine Flu". Not to mention the ringing that resounded in my ears after leaving the computer labs--tissue boxes anchored to the tables, tissues to the noses; a symphony of sneezes, a cacophony of coughs. A nightmare, I tell you, life without H1N1 is a nightmare for the college student.) The virus has spread across the state in waves, first in small numbers and then with a sudden explosion in numbers, especially in urban and academic hot-spots where interpersonal contact and public transportation are unavoidable.

This year is proving to be *the* year to vaccinate against the flu...

Stay tuned for more information on up-coming clinics in your area!

-Worldbloc

The weather's getting cold in my mind... ICELAND!

2009-11-12T20:30:00.000-08:00

There are some places that one has an affinity with. In his Sentimental Journey, Laurence Sterne hilariously (and pompously) borrows the French term avoir voyager. Wanderlust; the strongest current in our natural lives is the desire to travel. Waxing intellectual for *just* a moment, I think that travel is the sincerest way to fulfill the human desire of knowledge. And of course joy and aesthetic pleasure. That being said, the places that we're drawn to visit (maybe more than visit) say something about us as people...

And I know that I'm not being too selfish in an exposition on Iceland! A unique place in both geography and culture, Iceland has one of the most interesting histories and most beautiful geography in all the world. It shares neither the North American nor the European continental plates. It is the world's 18th largest island, but is one of the least densely populated areas of the globe. The current population is around 300,000 people, most of whom reside in the capital. The rest of the population lives in smaller cities along the coast of the island; they are connected by Ring Road. Geologically, Iceland is a hot bed of activity, abounding in geysers, volcanoes, as well as glaciers.

Iceland is also known for its tremendous artist population. Click here to get a taste of the local work. A visit to the galleries in Reykjavik is extremely rewarding! The music scene is also internationally known (the most famous musician, perhaps, is the singer Bjork!)...

Enjoy the pictures and if you find yourself inspired, why not plan a trip to Iceland. Life's short, and we all need to satisfy our wanderlust... what would Sterne say?

Kolkata India: City of Pandals

2009-10-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

India is a miasmic country with as many ethnic and cultural variations within its borders as most continents contain. There are 18 official languages in India and many more unofficial and orally-maintained indigenous ones, not to mention sharply distinct regional characteristics from all corners of this magnificent country. Attempting to discuss all of India’s charms and cultural must-sees is impossible in the scope of one teeny-tiny blog entry… today, I’d love to share the riches of Kolkata!

Kolkata (also known as Calcutta) is India’s third largest metropolis, and perhaps, the nation’s fine art capital. Kolkata’s astounding architectural feats, such as the Dakshineswar Kali Temple and Tipo Sultan Mosque are not empty sepulchers: the city is also well known for its musical and film cultural currents.

The city’s most famous Durga Puja festival is one of the most beautiful events held in Kolkata and usually falls in the month of October, though this year’s festival fell at the end of September 2009 (it is scheduled according to the traditional Hindi calendar). Its premise is the celebration of the Hindu goddess Durga, and includes the display of artists’ depiction of her, known as pandals.

Although the festival is widely practiced in the West Bengali region of India, Calcutta is home to the most opulent display with its adornment in lights and the nation’s largest collection of pandals; indeed, the celebration is noted as the Rio Carnival of the Eastern Hemisphere. In Kolkata specifically, the festival begins with thousands of people offering their prayers to their ancestors on the banks of the Ghats River. Songs and readings called Chandi and Aagamani welcome the goddess to the city in its early morning light. Once local drummers congregate and attract the population, the highly intricate puja rituals begin.

At night, after the official ceremonies, the city bursts with life and millions of national and international tourists flood the streets of light in order to feast on the beauty of the pandals. On the fourth and final day of the festival, the goddess is bade farewell until the next year, although no one really wants the goddess to leave…

And you won’t, either!

But for the foreign traveler, there are several health dangers and precautions to be noted and followed. Be sure that all of your general vaccines (such as MMR, varicella, polio, and DPT) are up-to-date before leaving. Also, if you will be leaving from a Yellow Fever zone before entering the country, India mandates that all travelers receive the Yellow Fever vaccine.

Call Passport Health for more information @ (732) 345-0029 and plan your trip to Kolkata!

Congrats Passport Health Philadelphia Delaware Valley! Grand Opening November 4, 2009:

2009-10-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

Philadelphia; a city renowned for its wealth of arts, culture, business, and heritage. Its the home to the Liberty Bell, the *real* original Cheesesteak, and now, Philly is home to Passport Health as well! Located in Center City, we're here to serve the Philadelphia metro-area's every health and travel need...

But for now, enough about us; here's a little bit about why we love Philly:

It's home to many of the nation's top universities, including the prestigious University of Pennsylvania, Temple, Drexel, St. Joseph's, LaSalle, and of course, Philadelphia University. This educational hub has a high-volume of student travelers, in its own right. In addition to the medical and professional populations in the city, the need for optimum medical care is a clear-cut call for Passport Health!

We're coming to the city of the Rodin Museum, in case you get the urge to fly off to France after the late artist's works enchant you! The home of more sports arenas and events than one can imagine; the home of Benjamin Franklin, and the first hospital in the US. It's only natural that PPH is coming to Philadelphia: a metropolis of innovation, community, and culture; who could stay away for long?

As the date of PPH Philly Delaware Valley's *grand opening* on November 4th, 2009 draws near, we'll keep you posted!

To contact the Philadelphia Delaware-Valley Passport Health offices:

Warrington 215-491-1111
Philadelphia 215-491-1111
Lawrenceville 732-345-0029

Visit our website at http://www.passporthealthphilly.com/

... And for now, I'll leave you with a little video tid-bit of our joy!

-Worldbloc

Stay Tuned

2009-10-02T17:12:00.000-07:00

Passport Health of New Jersey has a long standing reputation for cutting-edge medical care as well as prompt and reliable on-site vaccination clinics to the government and health services in our vicinity. Passport Health was responsible for vaccinating United States Postal men and women against Anthrax in Hamilton Township in addition to its administering vaccines to the United States Military after the September 11th attacks.

We here at Passport Health are committed to preserving everyday health of New Jersey and Philadelphia-metro residents in encouraging citizens to receive their seasonal flu vaccine, not to mention during their time abroad.

And when crisis emerges, like this year's pandemic of H1N1, Passport Health of New Jersey is the first in the area to receive updates on the status of the H1N1 vaccine.

You can count on us! Stay tuned for frequent updates...

-Worldbloc

News break: new findings for HIV vaccine

2009-09-25T08:22:00.000-07:00

Today, the story broke in newspapers and online journals around the world: the first successful vaccination trial against HIV. Success, however, is a relative term. Among the test group, some 16,000 Thai volunteers for the experimental vaccine, results showed 31% protected from the virus.

The project, since its inception in 2003, has been lead by the Thai government with strong backing from the United States military. The volunteer group, which was selected from and original pool of 60,000 applicants, consists of Thai citizens ages 18-30 from the Rayong and Chon Buri provinces.

Six years later, reports show that 0.8 of the selected population contracted HIV. The breakdown: 51% of vaccinated volunteers and 74% of those unprotected volunteers were tested positive for the virus in 2006.

Thailand has a long history in the battle against HIV, making it the most obvious and beneficial ground for the experimental study. The vaccine itself is a combination of two older vaccines ALVAC and AIDSVAX, which is based on the E and B strains of the virus (a widespread strain in Thailand, opposed to the C strain prevalent on the African continent).

The French pharmaceutical company Sanofi-Aventis is responsible for developing the former and the US company GENVAX has developed the latter to act as a booster after the initial ALVAC immunization. GENVAX, since the start date in 2003 has ceded to the non-profit group Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases.

In spite of these initial positive results, cheaper and more time-tested methods of condom usage and counseling, remain the most dependable against the threat of HIV. US Colonel Jerome Kim sited the new developments as "modest."

But for now, we'll take what we can get.

photo: http://www.destination360.com/asia/thailand

Natasha's Journey

2009-09-24T07:08:00.000-07:00

My friend Natasha does things a little differently than most other ducks. Originally from Los Vegas, a transplant to the East Coast environment of Rutgers University, there's something in her blood that thirsts for travel.

This summer, for example, Natasha spent the months of May and June in Spain. After a 48-hour lay-over in New Jersey (more specifically, my couch) and a trip to her storage unit, she switched out her luggage for some South American winter garments and headed for a six-week Latin-American Studies program in Bolivia.

The amazing stories that returned with my dear friend were beautiful, full of cultural experience and intellectual growth. The program focused on aid and advocacy to the local indigenous population. The views of the mountains and the rain forest were breathtaking, and the pictures she brought back proved her point!

But for all of the aesthetic magic that Bolivia offered, that is not to say it didn't have it's share of health risks. Thankfully, Natasha received her Yellow Fever vaccine from Passport Health before she left for Spain. "I can't believe I almost forgot to do it! I would have been out of luck if I tried to do it during the 48-hour period I stopped over in the U.S.," she said.

And she's right: although it is always better to receive the Yellow Fever than to go without (in fact, travelers aren't allowed to go to many areas of South America without it!) it is optimum if Yellow Fever vaccination is received ten days or more before the date of departure.

There are many stories; the story of the brick oven, the story of the out-house (oh, yes, but I will not explicate that here...) Needless to say, thanks to Passport Health, Natasha made it through safe and sound!

Travel needs vary widely from one area of South America to another; call (732) 345-0029 to schedule your personalized travel consultation with one of our specialists!

Breaking news: US goverment leads international flu vaccine donations

2009-09-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

President Obama said in a press conference on September 17, 2009 that the United States would donate 10% of the swine flu vaccine that it has ordered. These donations, along with similar donations from European, South American, and Australian nations, gesture towards a global effort to control the spread of the disease in poorer regions of the world. Read more about this development here!

PHNJ Close-up: Mary K. Cummings, R.N.

2009-09-17T19:09:00.000-07:00

"I don't know what to say; I've been a nurse for 25 years!" says Mary K. Cummings, travel Passport Health Specialist in our Morristown Office.

After receiving her Associate's Degree from SUNY-Orange in 1984, and continued at Palm Beach Atlantic College. Mary K. is currently finishing her BSN (Bachelor's of Science and Nursing) at SUNY-Ulster.

She has worked in a variety of medical settings. In fact, Mary K.'s diversity in her professional experience is hard to match. These settings include: hospitals, prisons, home care, nursing homes, and camps, not to mention our Morristown location of Passport Health. In addition to her exemplary career, Mary K. has three children in college and loves weekend escapes to the Northeast.

"Even the [Norteast] is rewarding variety of geography and culture with this crazy schedule!" says Mary K. And if you didn't think it was jam-packed full of excitement yet, wait till you hear what she does for *fun*.

It's hard to find an adventurous, daring, breathtaking activity that Mary K. has not or will not try. Her feats against fear even include skydiving! She also has a passion for skiing, scuba diving, hiking, gardening, and entertaining in her home (in that order of declining physical demand).

Mary K. loves travel and adventure in all of its forms, making her a unique resource as a travel specialist!

PHNJ close-up: Helen Graber, R.N.

2009-09-11T16:20:00.000-07:00

This week, we'd like to shine some light on PHNJ's Morristown associate, Helen Graber. It all started at the University of Rochester, where she received a Bachelor's Degree in Science and her Registered Nurse certification.

Now, if you don't know much about nursing (and that's fine, it takes a special and talented kind of person) here's a tid-bit. The Registered Nurse's degree a highly respected degree (and it's only attained after an especially rigorous course study!).

But Helen went far beyond the already amazing accomplishment of being a nurse: she has also received a Master in Science and Perinatal Clinical Specialist Degree from the much-lauded Columbia University.

After she completed her education, Helen worked in the Perinatal field for over 10 years including time in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, as well as the High Risk Pregnancy Care Unit, and Developmental Follow-up Care for premature infants. She also served on the Governor's Task Force for Fetal Alcohol Syndrome.

When Helen met her husband Gordon, an attorney in Morristown, she decided to take time off from her career in order to pursue motherhood. During Devin and Brette Joan's childhoods', Helen worked as a part-time nurse in Mendham Township and Mendham Boro School District, as well as at the Delabarton School.

Helen's drive and discipline isn't something she has forgotten to pass on to her two children. Her elder son, after graduating from Claremont McKenna College in May of 2009, is currently planted in Ghana, Africa. He is currently developing a soccer academy as well as playing in a Premier team for the African League.

And her daughter, also following a flare for world-travel, is currently in London for the fall semester through Santa Clara University.

Helen first heard about Passport Health through an unusual path in the fall of 2008. Her father in Florida told her that he went to get his Pneumonia vaccination at his local office. Once she heard that there was a Passport Health of New Jersey, her interest was sparked, immediately.

And we're so glad it was!

Helen Graber's top-notch education and experience in Perinatal nursing make her the best choice for PHNJ's Morristown office; she maintains the perfect combination of expertise in the medical (not to mention travel) field and compassionate dedication to all of her patients. With a nurse like Helen Graber, you're in the best of care!

One Flu Over the Cookoo's Nest

2009-09-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

This year, the craze for flu vaccination has reached an all-time high. This is attributable to different factors: increased population, growing unrest over H1N1, and the arrival of preservative-free vaccine.

Last week, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that last year, 1,000 people died in that city from complications produced from the seasonal flu; while only 54 have died from complications from H1N1. These are important facts and perspectives to keep in mind in the 2009-2010 season.

In addition to preservative-free flu vaccines, Passport Health will offer the traditional vaccine, as well as the mist vaccine that comes in the form of a nasal spray.

What is this nasal spray, you say?

FluMist, like the traditional flu vaccine, is a live vaccine (it contains a weaker version of the virus). It is recommended for people between the ages of 2 and 49 years of age; click here to see if FluMist is right for you and your family!

The 2009-2010 Influenza Vaccine will include protection against three new strains of the flu that were known to cause particular misery among last year's sufferers, the Brisbane/10 being one.

September marks the mad rush for vaccination, it's important to make sure you've made your appointment at Passport Health to ensure your safety in the coming season.

No sneezes!,

Worldbloc

photocred: http://www.flickr.com/photos/anyongfu/3124069577/

Ragweed, be gone!

2009-09-01T06:57:00.000-07:00

If you live in New Jersey or the surrounding area, you know about ragweed. More than know; you hate ragweed. This fall season, ragweed allergies are anticipated to be more severe than in years past, due to a summer saturated with heavy precipitation.

Ragweed, also known as Ambrosia, comes in a stunning 41 varieties. So you can be miserable in abundance. Leonard Bielory, the Directory of Asthma and Allergy Research Center at UMDNJ says that allergies will peak around Labor Day in 2009. The UMDNJ webiste also quotes Bielory in noting that there are other triggers in our everyday environment:

"Honeydew melon, cantaloupe, bananas and camomile, an herb found in some teas and cosmetic products, are related to ragweed and contain many of the same ingredients that contribute to sneezing, coughing, congestion, running noses, headaches, irritated eyes and sometimes wheezing," Dr. Bielory said. "If you are allergic to ragweed, these items may exacerbate your hay fever symptoms and may contribute to the 'oral allergy' syndrome by making your palate itch."

Now, I can't do much else than think of my 12 year-old brother at this stage of the game. I don't quite remember the date, but it was no later than August 20th that his eyes puffed up in itchy agony and throat closed up- in short, it was not fun to be in the car with the kid.

But there are things you can do! Aside from a well-timed investment in antihistimines, you should avoid outdoot activities in midday, when the plant's pollen is most widely dessimated. Doing yardwork in the evening, as well as showering before bed and wiping down shoes can help fortify your home against the nusance of the "immortal" plant.

And then she had the flu...

2009-08-19T06:40:00.000-07:00

No. Not me. Not right now. But there was a time, and a place, when I knew a girl who did. Like all mythic (and somewhat unbelievable... but ultimately true) New Jersey folklore, this one is for the annals of flu history!
Forget about 1918, The Great Scourge has nothing on my cousin's best friend Maggie. To borrow a line from Golden Girls, "picture it!" Red Bank, the winter of 2007...

At the time, Maggie was still a full-time student at Rutgers University. It was her third year, it was her hardest year, and it was finals-season. So, naturally, the girl was run-down. She was low-down, and she was packed into trains, lecture halls, and (industrial-sized) dining halls like a sardine bathed in germy, wintery misery. And with the first flakes of snow, Maggie's immune system tanked into the red. The girl had the flu.

And for any readers out there who didn't have the flu in 2007, it was *not* a good year.

"The aching," she said. "The aching was more than I could take. A good puke now and then... tolerable, understandable. But my body hurt too much to leave my bed for five days, straight. Finally, my boyfriend mustered the courage to visit me on what felt like my deathbed, only to flee in terror. I didn't know I looked that bad. Long story short, I had to reschedule three final exams, quarantine myself away from friends and family, and miss the biggest Christmas party of the season. A few of my friends got me those germ stuffed animals; The Black Plague. I felt really good about myself."

So, friends, how can you avoid this hideous fate? Get a flu shot! I know what you're thinking... "Worldbloc, it's August! You need to relax!" Oh, but how can I, after Maggie? How can any of us really rest assured, knowing that flu season is encroaching on our joyous summer days, lurking in the shorter days, just around the corner?

Officially, flu season doesn't kickoff for a couple of months, but the prudent student, parent, and human being know when to sign up for their dose of misery protection. (That time is now, folks!) And to make it all the better, Passport Health of New Jersey is now offering preservative-free flu vaccine. So call up your ol' friends at Passport Health @ (732) 345-0029, and tell them you don't want the Maggie's this year.

You'll be so glad you did...

Worldbloc

First-class medical care for travel, anywhere!

2009-08-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

We here at Passport Health New Jersey are very excited about our entrance into the weblog community. This is Worldbloc, and I'll be your blogger for the duration of your stay. The first order of business: why does travelling smart mean travelling with PHNJ?

Well, there's a story to answer that...

It began with a bagel in Seoul and ended in a bathroom stall in Phnom Phen. New Year's Eve 2009, I met up with eighteen college-aged women at JFK airport around 10PM. After about an hour of waiting for our primary guide to arrive from the Union of Myanmar (Burma) after a stint of field reporting, we spotted her from across the concourse. Her bedraggled body shivered like a leaf in a blizzard under the hollow, yellow lights. But she swung her teal and fushia pashmina back with determination. We boarded the plane, slightly stirred but not shaken.

... Until we realized that our layover in Seoul was for twelve hours and thirty-two minutes, and not thirty-two minutes. It was twelve degrees that morning, which was New Year's morning, and almost none of us were prepared to face the cold. But we made the best of it, loaded a bus and headed for the Capitol City, proper.

The sunrise on the road between Incheon and Seoul was breathtaking. The hills were frosted over in a magnificent shade of blackish-green in front of the red-orb sun, still low in the pale orange sky. Buildings propped up against the horizon in a way I had never seen in America.

Several of my friends opted to try the fried silk-worms served on the street... between that and the whipping winds that day, they were not happy campers on the second half of our journey. Our guide certainly was not looking any better at customs in Siem Reap.

At this point, I should mention the arsenal of PHNJ supplies I carried with me: everything from a Steri-Pen to a whiz to about 4875 band-aids. In the beginning, some of the girls laughed when I sterilized each and every bottle of water on the trip; by the end, everyone asked to use it. (Sometimes, I still whip it out at Rutgers!)

The weather in Cambodia was wonderful. From the moment we stepped off the plane, the air smelled of sweet incense and spices. Our guide did not seem to enjoy the fragrance, and spent the majority of the following day in bed, or asleep at our table. She was so ill by the third day of our trip that she was med-evaced out of the country (and ended up having brain snails... ew)!

There we were, in Southeast Asia, without our guide. And then my roommate got sick. At first, it was just a "little bug" in her system, but by the time we reached Phnom Phen, whatever she had swept over the up-stairs of our guest-house like the Black Plague. Needless to say, I was terrified. But I never fell prey to illness! Band-aids, alcohol wipes, whiz (so glad I brought that!), and so many other items saved my trip and really helped the people I was with. I would not have traded my experience for anything!

Unfortunately, I can't say the same for my friend. I had the unlucky job of ushering her into the bathroom of the Phnom Phen Airport (an hour before our flight) as she vomited into a clear plastic bag for all to see. The plane ride home wasn't pleasant, either...

Would I call these little mishaps a deterrent to world travel? Absolutely not. The experience made me realize that *life* happens no matter what you do, and sometimes things don't go as planned (and sometimes they go downright wrong!). Preparation and precaution salvaged my trip and ensured my health in Cambodia. The supplies and education I received from working at Passport Health New Jersey really did make the difference, and I am more than certain that it will for you, as well.

Wishing healthy (adventurous, astonishing, wonderful!) travels,

Worldbloc