The world is full of terrible diseases and this post will highlight the many resources, countries, data and information on a full list of potentially life threatening illnesses which the traveler should be aware of prior to going into effected areas of the world.
Update: 6-16-2015 - There seems to have been a newly discovered anti-malaria drug which if tests for safety in humans prove effective, then this new drug could have the potential to be a game changer in the fight against malaria types that have become resistant to other drugs. Click here for the recent report.
Update: 8-8-2014 - The spread of drug resistant strains of malria in SEAsia
is advancing at a rapid pace and health authorizes have expressed
deep concerns about combating this ongoing issue. Click here for
the recent report which concerns areas of Burma ,
Thailand and Cambodia
Update: 3-25-2014 - Locations inSE Asia are now experiencing a serious
problem with malaria where the virus has become highly resistant to the current
medicines used to combat this disease. Click here for
the recent report which concerns areas of Burma , Thailand and Cambodia
Update: 3-10-2014 - In a very recent report concerning Malaria, it now appears that the disease is spreading to elevations which were thought to be safe from the disease. Please click here for the recent report.
Update: 10-8-2013 - A very recent news article has revealed that one pharmaceutical company has completed human trials and is very close to the release of its Malaria vaccine. Please read this story by clicking here. Earlier the an American company had also announced an vaccine and you can read the article by taking the link provided in the update below.
Are you wondering what kind of health issues you may face when you are going to different countries? This link is to the web site IAMAT or International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers. If you visit this web site it will give you detailed information about the medical risks one may face depending on which country you visit. This link is to their malaria risk chart which can be scary but very informative. You can also search their web site for other specific items such as yellow fever.
If you are wondering about malaria specifically the CDC in the United States has an excellent web site which will give you some very detailed information from maps to specific search parameters. Go to their malaria application map and it will give an overview or you can do a specific search on the search box. When doing the search tick the box for "search all populated places". One other excellent resource for travel related health issues and risks is The World Health Organization or WHO for short. I recommend that prior to travels, it is wise to review this data in advance so you will be better informed before you depart, especially if your travels will take you to countries where health risks are high.
Dengue fever is also another serious issue and this disease is more widespread than most travelers understand. It is very widespread in India and in places of the world that we would not even begin to consider as an area of this disease. An interactive map details these areas and though it is slow to load when it is completed you can click any of the circles and it will provide data for that region.
The CDC also publishes a listing of health advisories for most of the more deadly diseases around the globe and I believe that this is an important tool for all travelers to use.
Additionally, here is an interesting graphic chart from the CDC which allows the viewer to select for a wide range of illnesses throughout the world and this graphic highlights the areas of the world where certain disease occurs. This map does not include Malaria.
In a recent post there was a story about some of the worst animals/spiders/insects that could potentially kill travelers in different parts of the world. Click here for the story.
Update: 9-22-2017 - This is an update of the situation related to drug
resistant malaria which now being referred to as "Super
Resistant" and has been spreading in SE Asia at alarming rates according
to the just issued report. This strain was of main concern after a report
in August 2014 but it appears that the situation is becoming much worse and
this is effecting Cambodia , Vietnam , Thailand
and Laos
Update: 1-12-2016 - There is a little known disease called Whitmore's
Disease which is also know as Melioidosis that is now coming into
more recognition as a serious risk for many around the world. It is
mainly endemic in SE Asia but cases have been reported in many other parts
of the world including the Americas ,
India
Update: 6-16-2015 - There seems to have been a newly discovered anti-malaria drug which if tests for safety in humans prove effective, then this new drug could have the potential to be a game changer in the fight against malaria types that have become resistant to other drugs. Click here for the recent report.
Update: 8-8-2014 - The spread of drug resistant strains of malria in SE
Update: 3-25-2014 - Locations in
Update: 3-10-2014 - In a very recent report concerning Malaria, it now appears that the disease is spreading to elevations which were thought to be safe from the disease. Please click here for the recent report.
Update: 10-8-2013 - A very recent news article has revealed that one pharmaceutical company has completed human trials and is very close to the release of its Malaria vaccine. Please read this story by clicking here. Earlier the an American company had also announced an vaccine and you can read the article by taking the link provided in the update below.
Update: 8-9-2013: The Americans have
just made a first step in a major breakthrough for a Malarial Vaccine which has
just been reported. Please click here for
the report. According to the news article, the first testings were very positive
but the overall effectiveness is still yet to be known, however, this could be
a game changer if the vaccine proves to steps in the fight against this disease.
Are you wondering what kind of health issues you may face when you are going to different countries? This link is to the web site IAMAT or International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers. If you visit this web site it will give you detailed information about the medical risks one may face depending on which country you visit. This link is to their malaria risk chart which can be scary but very informative. You can also search their web site for other specific items such as yellow fever.
If you are wondering about malaria specifically the CDC in the United States has an excellent web site which will give you some very detailed information from maps to specific search parameters. Go to their malaria application map and it will give an overview or you can do a specific search on the search box. When doing the search tick the box for "search all populated places". One other excellent resource for travel related health issues and risks is The World Health Organization or WHO for short. I recommend that prior to travels, it is wise to review this data in advance so you will be better informed before you depart, especially if your travels will take you to countries where health risks are high.
Dengue fever is also another serious issue and this disease is more widespread than most travelers understand. It is very widespread in India and in places of the world that we would not even begin to consider as an area of this disease. An interactive map details these areas and though it is slow to load when it is completed you can click any of the circles and it will provide data for that region.
The CDC also publishes a listing of health advisories for most of the more deadly diseases around the globe and I believe that this is an important tool for all travelers to use.
Additionally, here is an interesting graphic chart from the CDC which allows the viewer to select for a wide range of illnesses throughout the world and this graphic highlights the areas of the world where certain disease occurs. This map does not include Malaria.
In a recent post there was a story about some of the worst animals/spiders/insects that could potentially kill travelers in different parts of the world. Click here for the story.
*** Please remember, when viewing these web sites, especially IAMAT, you should read the information throughly and have a complete understanding of what is presented. In most cases, especially and only if you are going into areas which are highly prone for malaria or yellow fever, then you should not face these issues in urban centers. Also, in the case of recommended vaccinations, these are just that, recommended and not a absolute must. The determining factors for having these vaccinations are of course the amount of exposure you may or may not have as well as where you are going and what you will be doing in any specific country. I personally have taken almost every vaccination on the lists only because I travel extensively and in remote areas. ***
Finally, I am not a medical doctor and I urge you to speak to a medical professional. However, I will relate one story of five young men I met in Egypt headed overland from Belgium to Cape Town, South Africa. I was extremely impressed with their preparations, especially the medicines they brought and were prescribed by their medical doctor(s), which also included items for malaria. Later I received an email which stated that even though they had taken the precautions for malaria, four of the five did in fact contract malaria.
Finally, I am not a medical doctor and I urge you to speak to a medical professional. However, I will relate one story of five young men I met in Egypt headed overland from Belgium to Cape Town, South Africa. I was extremely impressed with their preparations, especially the medicines they brought and were prescribed by their medical doctor(s), which also included items for malaria. Later I received an email which stated that even though they had taken the precautions for malaria, four of the five did in fact contract malaria.
Travel Safe, Travel Happy