Healthline Blogs
Dr. Paul Auerbach is the world's leading outdoor health expert. His blog offers tips on outdoor safety and advice on how to handle wilderness emergencies.
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May 19 2011
Update on Vaccine Against Meningococcus
One of the most feared infectious diseases for outdoor travelers—particularly children and young adults—meningitis caused by the bacterium Neisseria meningitidis (meningococcus). The infection can appear in outbreaks, most commonly abroad, part...
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Mar 21 2011
The Japan Earthquake, Tsunami, and Nuclear Reactor Complication
Ofunato, Japan After the Earthquake and TsunamiI have just received word that my good friend N. Stuart Harris, MD, who is Chief of the Division of Wilderness Medicine in the Department of Emergency Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, is i...
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Mar 15 2011
Using Potassium Idodide After a Nuclear Radiation Emergency
Potassium IodideHere in more detail is information from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)about the use of potassium iodide after a nuclear radiation emergency:How Potassium Iodide Works Potassium iodide (also called KI...
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Mar 14 2011
Whooping Cough & Immunizations
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced that 21,000 people in the U.S. were reported to have suffered last year from whooping cough (pertussis, caused by the bacteria Bordetella pertussis). This is the highe...
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Mar 11 2011
Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan
Sendai Earthquake 2011Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone in harm’s way related to the earthquake and tsunami that just struck Japan, as they did for persons in New Zealand, Haiti, and every other country recently affected by a natural di...
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Mar 04 2011
Guest Post: Prevention & Treatment of Traveler’s Diarrhea
Prevention of traveler’s diarrhea (TD) centers around three methods: dietary safety, immunizations, and chemoprophylaxis (medications taken to prevent diarrhea). Education on safe eating practices should form the basis of protection. Hand washi...
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Mar 01 2011
Guest Post: Traveler’s Diarrhea - The Basics
E. Coli BacteriaKnown around the world by many names, including “Montezuma’s revenge,” “Delhi belly” and “mummy tummy,” traveler’s diarrhea (TD) is the most common illness faced by travelers. Nothing can slow down a fun trip as easily as TD—an...
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Feb 17 2011
Amazon Conservation Team: Mapping the Amazon
members of the Ipkeng tribeMedicine for the outdoors is predicated on there being healthy and thriving outdoor environments, including wilderness. There are many organizations that support conservation and preservation. One of my favorites is ...
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Feb 03 2011
The Origin of the Haitian Cholera Outbreak Strain
When I was traveling in Nepal this past November to assist in creating the Nepal Ambulance Service, cholera was beginning to appear in Haiti. It had long been predicted that infectious diarrhea of some sort would become epidemic in Haiti, given...
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Jan 24 2011
Cholera Vaccines
microscopic image of Vibrio choleraeCholera is not a common cause of infectious diarrhea in the United States, but it can certainly be a problem for travellers to non-U.S. countries, particularly those in South Asia with contaminated water sup...
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