Last Thursday, U.S. health officials reported that after a full decade of decline, Europe and Africa reported an increase in the number of measles cases in 2010.  Because of concerted immunization efforts in those areas, total cases declined from more than 853,000 in 2000 to nearly 278,000 in 2008, and remained stable in 2009. However, the number increased in 2010 to almost 340,000 — a jump of over 21%.  Worldwide, measles remains a very serious problem, with over 20 million cases and 197,000 deaths each year.  Over half of the cases and deaths are in India and China.

The somewhat alarming rise in the number of cases is felt partly due to an increasing reluctance on the part of many parents to have their children immunized against measles. Indeed, in what most physicians feel is a gross misrepresentation of the dangers, claims of severe reactions, including autism, have been used by some parents as an excuse to forego the measles vaccination for their children. In truth, the incidence of serious side effects is very rare.  Most children experience only mild local discomfort, fever, and rash. 

On the other hand, complications from measles such as ear infections (10%), pneumonia (5%) and brain damage from subacute sclerosing panencephalitis — an inflammation of the brain that can lead to convulsions, and leave the victim deaf or mentally retarded (0.1%) are much more common than unwelcome side effects of the vaccine.  Parents of unimmunized children reap the benefits of having the vast majority of the remaining pediatric population immunized, particularly in the United States.  This “free ride” has its limitations, especially for those traveling abroad

In January, four members of an unimmunized family from Kansas who had recently traveled to an undisclosed location overseas, were diagnosed with measles.  Two other cases in unvaccinated persons were reported in the same community one week later. Measles is very contagious and is characterized by high fever, cough, a runny nose, redness in the eyes and a characteristic pink rash that spreads from the face to the feet.

Health officials worldwide are concerned that the efforts to eradicate measles will be stymied if parents continue to resist having their children immunized. Since the measles vaccine is almost always given in combination with mumps and rubella (German measles), these illnesses are likely to see an increase as well.  Although the incidence of measles remains extremely low in the United States, parents with unprotected children going abroad, particularly to areas where the measles virus remains prevalent, should be aware of the risks involved.

Photo by Gates Foundation.

Despite the bad headlines over the seemingly never-ending drug wars in Mexico, tourists are flocking to the country more than ever before. The Financial Times reports that Mexico had a record number of tourists this past December. More than a million tourists traveled to Mexico in December – a 13 percent jump from the previous December.

It’s quite a rebound. In late 2009, there had been concern that tourism to Mexico was a thing of the past as the number of visitors plummeted. But remember, that was soon after the H1N1 flu epidemic that broke out there and the global financial crisis was at its nadir. Now, things are looking very rosy, despite the drug wars. But just in case, sign up for mPassport and keep track of safety alerts.

Speaking of safety alerts, a trip to Egypt could be a touch adventurous these days. Violence erupted this week in what’s being called a soccer riot, but seems to have much deeper roots. A lot of people on the ground are blaming authorities for being too aggressive and sparking the vioelence.

This looks like some unexpected fun. Mike Ives of the Washington Post journeyed to Laos to celebrate the New Year, and a water fight broke out.

It’s been a mild winter in most of the US, but trust me, you could use a little sun. How about Tahiti and French Polynesia? The folks at Lonely Planet say it’s a lot more affordable than you think, especially if you follow their advice and avoid some of the insanely expensive islands that give this destination its reputation.

In the wake of the Costa Concordia disaster, you’d think that everyone would be a little more attuned to the safety drills and rules. Apparently not. U.S.-based Holland America had to boot a passenger off its Caribbean-bound cruise ship Westerdam after the passenger refused to take part in a pre-cruise safety drill.

Caveat emptor. Britain’s Advertising Standards Authority is chastising TripAdvisor for calling their customer reviews “trusted.”

Author: John Miller
John Miller is president of Miller Media Group.  He is an avid traveler and web-surfing junkie.

For most of us, it’s unimaginable to think that you might have to live without a mobile phone for even a couple of hours – and that includes when you’re traveling internationally. More and more, your smartphone is an invaluable travel tool.

For this reason BlackBerry owners have to be concerned with the avalanche of bad news surrounding Research in Motion, the maker of BlackBerry mobile devices. With the company struggling, you have to wonder if they can keep pace with the iPhone and Android operating systems. And now comes word that BlackBerry is “under siege” in Europe. The New York Times reports that BlackBerry is losing market share to Samsung’s Droid phones, especially in Europe. A second report from another research firm says that BlackBerry is still the top-selling phone in the United Kingdom, although Samsung Droid phones are gaining fast. One of BlackBerry’s strongest attributes is the high level of security they offer. Once Android and iOS can match that level, they will likely absorb even more of the market share.

For BlackBerry-toting travelers, the concern isn’t that your individual device will suddenly stop working. But, if BlackBerry ceases to be competitive with iOS and Android, it’s reasonable to be concerned about the long term viability of the entire platform. So, the short term answer to the question of whether your BlackBerry will work in Europe is “yes.” But long term … might just be another matter.

Author: John Miller
John Miller is president of Miller Media Group.  He is an avid traveler and web-surfing junkie.

Photo by adactio. 

It’s no secret that a lot of people have switched to a gluten-free diet, whether or not they have Celiac Disease. The benefits are great for many people, but there’s a question that can be a significant obstacle for gluten-free dieters who want to venture beyond the outskirts of town.

How do you keep your gluten-free diet when traveling?

Most people assume that you can’t. They assume that the restaurant in Rome is going to fill your plate with pasta no matter how vehemently you tell them you’re intolleranza al glutin. But fear not; there are plenty of resources to help you stay gluten-free all around the globe.

Most people who maintain a gluten-free diet know which foods to avoid and which foods to ask for. When traveling to a foreign country, it’s simply a matter of being a little more vigilant and prepared so that you can relax and enjoy.

The most comprehensive is CeliacTravel.com. The site has numerous tips for travelers, including how to eat on the plane (preorder a celiac meal!) and to be sure to take gluten-free snacks with you so that you can stave off those hunger pangs that might lead you to hungrily devour something you might regret.

But by far the best feature of CeliacTravel.com is their gluten-free restaurant cards. The cards come in 51 different languages and are an easy way to make sure you’re clearly communicating with a waitperson when you might not speak the language that well. Each card explains that you cannot eat certain foods and asks them to help you steer clear of those foods.  You can download PDFs of the cards for free (although they’d like a donation, please). It’s beautiful in its simplicity.

Another resource is travel writer Hilary Davidson’s blog Gluten-Free Guidebook, which demonstrates that you really can go gluten-free in Italy. Davidson blogs about her travels across the U.S. and around the world while maintaining a gluten-free diet. She also invites guest posts from readers to discuss their successes and challenges in navigating the globe gluten-free.

Also, consider GlutenFreeTravelSite.com, although its primary focus is on domestic eating options. However, without it, you might never know about the best gluten-free dining experience in Paris.

The key to any trip abroad is planning, and that is doubly true when you’re looking to enjoy worry-free, gluten-free dining. With these resources, you can see that it’s possible to travel the world without getting, literally, sick about it.

Author: John Miller
John Miller is the president of Miller Media Group. He is an avid traveler and web-surfing junkie.

Photo by nonsolograno.

Time again for Friday Links, a collection of the most interesting international travel writing from the past seven days and – hopefully – provide you with some weekend reading.

The capsizing of the Costa Concordia continues to dominate international headlines. You can read all the latest versions of Captain Francesco Schettino’s story in a million places, so you’re on your own for that.

But many folks are wondering what the lasting impact will be on the cruise business; will people be concerned about their safety out on the ocean? That might seem like an absurd concern, but you can be sure some people will be worried about it. At Bing Travel, Eric Lucas debunks 12 other myths about cruises that might be stopping people from considering this travel alternative.

Nancy Trejos of USA Today reports that a study from DePaul University shows that travelers are using tablets such as the iPad when they travel. The study shows that the use of iPads, Kindles and Nooks rose more than 50 percent in 2011. I assume most of those folks have the good sense to download an mPassport app before leaving the country.

I say Rwanda, you think genocide. Not good, I know. But that was almost 20 years ago, and it is a beautiful country. At CNN, Kim Segal reports that officials in Rwanda are hoping to attract tourists eager see what the “land of a thousand hills” is all about. Segal offers three must-see attractions in Rwanda.

At the New York Times, Christopher Solomon skies the Spanish Pyrenees.

Be careful if you’re headed to Bolivia, which just got hit with flooding, and Belgium, where the trains are shut down by a worker strike.

Here’s a good way to put together your travel bucket list – the New Open World Corporation has compiled a list of the New Seven Wonders of Nature. Bing Travel has a spectacular slide show.

Author: John Miller
John Miller is the president of Miller Media Group. He is an avid traveler and web-surfing junkie.

This is some exciting news for international travelers – American Airlines announced that starting February 1, they will begin serving complimentary beer and wine to customers flying in the main cabin on certain international flights.

That’s right – free beer and wine will be served on American’s flights between the U.S. and Europe, Asia, and certain countries in South America. Hard liquor is not included in the deal. American collaborates with classically trained winemaker and viticulturist Ken Chase on its award-winning wine program, and pays special attention to pairing it appropriately with its food menu.

So this could be a pretty tasty deal.

But before you start envisioning the chance to launch your own flying frat party, consider the implications of free drinks on how you’ll feel when you arrive at your destination. Doctors consider alcohol to be a key contributor to jet lag. The effects of alcohol are multiplied at altitude, so drinking even small amounts in the air can exacerbate tiredness and make that hangover a little more intense.

The other consideration is dehydration – the air on planes is very dry (they keep it that way because it helps preserve the interior of the plane), and will leave you feeling dehydrated when you land. Alcohol is going to increase dehydration, and make you feel more jet-lagged. So it makes sense to drink plenty while you’re airborne – plenty of water that is.

So, if you’re flying American internationally, feel free to drink up. But also drink water, and don’t get too crazy.

Author: John Miller
John Miller is the president of Miller Media Group. He is an avid traveler and web-surfing junkie.

This week, research scientists from the University of Wisconsin and Erasmus University in the Netherlands announced that they were suspending research on new, more contagious bird flu strains for at least the next 60 days.  The announcement was in response to growing concerns that the genetically engineered strains already developed by these virologists could get into the hands of bioterrorists and cause an unprecedented worldwide epidemic.

With a mortality rate approaching 60%, infection with the bird flu virus ranks as one of the most damaging strains of all time. The virus seems to be particularly harmful to otherwise healthy, young people who have limited immunity to other influenza A viruses.  Human-to-human spread is almost unheard of, with the vast majority of cases on record attributable to very close contact with infected poultry.  Scientists announced last month that they had genetically engineered strains that were readily transmissible among humans. 

There is currently no vaccine for the bird flu, and only two medications — oseltamivir and zanamivir — have been shown to be effective in treating the infection.  Symptoms include the typical constellation of fever, muscle aches, runny nose, headache, and cough.  Patients who develop eye infections, pneumonia, severe respiratory diseases (such as acute respiratory distress), and other complications are at greatest risk of succumbing to the infection. 

Epidemiologists all over the globe are watching carefully for strains of bird flu that evolve naturally to spread more easily from person to person.   For more information about influenza pandemics, see Flu.gov.

Photo by uafcde.

A look back at the violence in Mexico last year finds drug war fatalities increasing 11% over 2010, raising the prospect that there is no end in sight after five years of war and nearly 50,000 dead. Of course, the worst violence is centered in a few provinces (see map). Visitors to Mexico should know that the casualties are heavily concentrated in states that border the U.S.: Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Sonora and Tamaulipas. Certain central/Pacific states are also the site of frequent bloodshed: Durango, Guerrero, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan and Sinaloa. There are sixteen states where numbers are considerably lower, especially Yucatan, where resorts continue to offer deals to attract those who look beyond the headlines and understand where the risks truly lie.

The states where most of the conflict takes place, marked in red.

Map courtesy of Hpav7.

Just as India celebrated a full year without a single new case of polio this month, Afghanistan and Pakistan officials released data that showed nearly a threefold increase in polio cases in 2011.  Although the total numbers were rather small — 76 (up from 25 in 2010) in Afghanistan and 192 (up from 80 in 2010) in Pakistan — the dramatic increase was particularly disheartening because both countries were so close to eradication.  Indeed, polio is considered endemic in only three countries in the world, with Nigeria the other still reporting new cases each year.

Politicians were quick to place the blame.  President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan blamed the Taliban. “Those who stand in the way of vaccination are the true enemies of our children’s future,” he said, calling on “the armed opposition to allow the vaccination teams to help save children against the lifetime paralysis.” Taliban leaders fought back, citing no change in their policy of allowing immunization teams to freely travel through territories they occupy.  “It is not for Karzai to ask us to attack or not to attack someone,” said the Taliban’s southern Afghanistan spokesman, Qari Yousaf Ahmadi.

Health officials appear to have their own view, citing many new cases in parts of Afghanistan where polio was seldom seen in the past. Historically, polio cases have been prevalent in the Pashtun belt of the southern region.  In 2011, cases were spread by refugees fleeing the war torn South for other parts of Afghanistan. Muhammed Taufiq Mashal, the director of preventive medicine in the Afghan Ministry of Public Health, blames much of the polio increase on infiltration from neighboring Pakistan.  This allegation has been confirmed by World Health Organization scientists who showed that the genetic sequence of many viruses isolated in Afghanistan match those from Pakistan.

Naqibullah Faieq, a member of the Afghan Parliament, said, “This health issue is nonpolitical, nonmilitary. We want both the government and the Taliban to not use the issue of vaccination in their speeches.”  Members of the World Health Organization responsible for tracking the incidence of polio agree.  Dr. Bruce Aylward, the polio coordinator for the World Health Organization, believes that the efforts to eliminate polio from Afghanistan and Pakistan will only be successful if vaccination efforts remain unimpeded by opposing political groups.

Smallpox was eliminated in 1977.  Will polio be next?

Photo from The Global Polio Eradication Initiative. 

Each Friday, we’re going to provide you with links to some of the best and most interesting travel and health stories of the week.

The travel story of the week was obviously the capsizing of the Italian cruise ship the Costa Concordia. As a traveler, there isn’t a whole lot you can do to plan for such a calamity. Odds are, this will never happen to you, so there’s no reason to be overly concerned about an epidemic of ships capsizing. However, it is a reminder that you always want to be as prepared as possible when you travel internationally (something we believe strongly in!).

There’s been a ton of news coverage of the catastrophe, and we’ll assume you have had your fill. One story you may have missed is at CNN, where they have a good article on what the protocol is supposed to be when a ship capsizes.

Here’s a vacation spot you may not have considered – Mogadishu, Somalia.

For travelers headed to Dubai – perhaps business travelers who’ll be staying for an extended period of time – Dubai has taken a significant step forward to ensure greater health among its populace. Gulfnews.com has the details on Dubai’s increased standards that will unify and better monitor vaccination standards in the emirate. 

If you have any concerns about influenza when you’re traveling – or if you’re just curious – Google Flu Trends is an interesting tool. As you know, when something is top of mind for people, they tend to head to the Internet to try to learn what’s going on. Now, researchers at Johns Hopkins have determined that Google queries for the search term “flu” (or a variation of it) are an accurate indication of people suffering from the flu. So, if you’re headed to say, France, you can take a look a Google Flu Trends and get a good idea if you’re heading into a sick zone.

Finally, what are the best seats for that long international flight? Bing Travel has a slide show detailing the most comfortable seats in the air (and the worst). Our favorites are the “spaceseats” on Air New Zealand.

Author: John Miller
John Miller is the president of Miller Media Group. He is an avid traveler and web-surfing junkie.