BALTIMORE— 9/20/2010— Jorge Castillo, Passport Health’s Corporate Director of Marketing and Business Development is attending the Africa Travel Association’s (ATA) Fifth Annual Presidential Forum in New York. Mr. Castillo will be representing Passport Health as a member of the ATA’s international board of directors. Passport Health, the nation’s largest private provider of travel medical services and immunizations, is highly involved with the ATA’s work to promote Africa and its business opportunities as well as its tourism industry. The ATA’s Fifth Annual Presidential Forum, hosted by New York University’s Africa House on September 22nd, 2010, will feature:
• His Excellency Idriss Déby, President of the Republic of Chad
• Honorable Fatou Mas-Jobe Njie, Minister of Tourism & Culture, Republic of The Gambia, President of the Africa Travel Association
• Honorable Minister Zita Okaikoi, Minister of Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Republic of Ghana
• Dr. Elham M.A. Ibrahim, Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy at the African Union
• Honorable Obiageli Ezekwesili, Vice President, Africa Region, World Bank
Invited to participate in the event are travel experts and professionals from the U.S. and Africa, including tourism ministers, marketing firms, travel agents, tour operators, airline and hotel representatives, the diplomatic community, and the travel trade media among others.
“I am honored to be part of this presidential forum”, said Castillo, “it is crucial in today’s economy to strengthen relationships with emerging African nations, such as The Gambia, Nigeria and South Africa, just to name a few”, he added. Passport Health provides country specific counseling and immunizations to international travelers. “Africa has wonderful tourist destinations as well as business development opportunities which attract business travelers, mission and volunteer workers as well as leisure travelers. It is important to promote and showcase these opportunities and to ensure that travelers are well-informed and immunized prior to their departure,” commented Fran Lessans, founder and CEO of Passport Health.
In an effort to do so, Passport Health is putting together a one-of-a-kind event in October. Mr. Castillo named the event “Rethink Africa” as it intends to shift the perception of Africa and show that Africa is not just about Malaria and Civil Wars. The ATA’s Mid-Atlantic Chapter is endorsing this event. Rethink Africa will take place at Loyola University’s Baltimore City Campus on October 12th, 2010 from 6-9pm. The event will feature a grand musical production by pianist Jimothy Rogers, owner and founder of Tonal Concepts, a keynote address by MD Secretary of State John P. McDonough, as well as statements prepared by President Bill Clinton and Governor O’Malley announcing their support for Rethink Africa’s goals.
Passport Health and the Mid-Atlantic Chapter of the Africa Travel Association invite you to “Rethink Africa” and enjoy a night of networking, music, and international cuisine.
For more information about Rethink Africa and to purchase tickets, please visit http://www.rethinkafrica.net/.
***
Tammy Broghammer
410-727-0556
Tammy.Broghammer@passporthealthusa.com
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Passport Health’s Corporate Director of Business Development and Marketing to attend Africa Travel Association’s Presidential Forum and International Board Meeting in New York
Tuesday, September 21, 2010Labels: Africa, africa travel, bill clinton, Chad, Ghana, immunizations, malaria, Nigeria, south africa, The Gambia, travel medical services, world bank 0 comments
Friday, September 10, 2010
H1N1 is Still Active in Some Countries
Friday, September 10, 2010
Sep 7, 2010 (CIDRAP News) - Flu activity is continuing at various intensity levels, with India reporting more deaths, Australia reporting increasing numbers of cases late in its flu season, and transmission declining in New Zealand.
Though the World Health Organization (WHO) on Aug 10 moved to a post-peak pandemic phase, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan yesterday repeated warnings that countries should stay alert for the 2009 H1N1 virus to limit the impact of outbreaks, Voice of America (VOA) reported today.
Chan, who spoke at the start of a 4-day WHO meeting in Bangkok with health officials from the agency's South-East Asia region, said the 2009 H1N1 virus remains a serious health risk, according to VOA. She added that the WHO is seeing localized outbreaks and some continuing "hot spots," which were expected in the post-peak phase.
"Let me remind you the pandemic virus has not gone away," Chan said. She said the virus is especially a threat to young people and pregnant women.
India's health ministry said today that in the week ending Sep 5 it had received at least 128 reports of 2009 H1N1 deaths, NetIndian News Network reported. The deaths were reported across 12 Indian states, but most were from Maharashtra (45), Gujarat (13), Madhya Pradesh (12), and Karnataka (9). India is in the midst of its second wave of infections, which was triggered by monsoon rains earlier this summer.
Australia's health ministry, in its update for the week ending Aug 27, said flu activity is increasing, with the highest number of lab confirmations in South Australia and Queensland states. Of 335 confirmed cases reported that week, 221 involved the 2009 H1N1 virus.
The country reported 12 flu hospitalizations during the surveillance week, of which 11 were for 2009 H1N1 infections. Surveillance systems reported three intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalizations during the same time period.
Meanwhile, New Zealand, which over the past several weeks has been reporting intense flu activity, said yesterday that the number of new cases was declining to levels seen at this time in 2008.
The country reported one more death linked to the virus, raising the total to 17. The health ministry said 11 people were currently receiving ICU treatment for their infections.
By Lisa Schnirring
Available at www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/sep0710flu-br.html
Though the World Health Organization (WHO) on Aug 10 moved to a post-peak pandemic phase, WHO Director-General Margaret Chan yesterday repeated warnings that countries should stay alert for the 2009 H1N1 virus to limit the impact of outbreaks, Voice of America (VOA) reported today.
Chan, who spoke at the start of a 4-day WHO meeting in Bangkok with health officials from the agency's South-East Asia region, said the 2009 H1N1 virus remains a serious health risk, according to VOA. She added that the WHO is seeing localized outbreaks and some continuing "hot spots," which were expected in the post-peak phase.
"Let me remind you the pandemic virus has not gone away," Chan said. She said the virus is especially a threat to young people and pregnant women.
India's health ministry said today that in the week ending Sep 5 it had received at least 128 reports of 2009 H1N1 deaths, NetIndian News Network reported. The deaths were reported across 12 Indian states, but most were from Maharashtra (45), Gujarat (13), Madhya Pradesh (12), and Karnataka (9). India is in the midst of its second wave of infections, which was triggered by monsoon rains earlier this summer.
Australia's health ministry, in its update for the week ending Aug 27, said flu activity is increasing, with the highest number of lab confirmations in South Australia and Queensland states. Of 335 confirmed cases reported that week, 221 involved the 2009 H1N1 virus.
The country reported 12 flu hospitalizations during the surveillance week, of which 11 were for 2009 H1N1 infections. Surveillance systems reported three intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalizations during the same time period.
Meanwhile, New Zealand, which over the past several weeks has been reporting intense flu activity, said yesterday that the number of new cases was declining to levels seen at this time in 2008.
The country reported one more death linked to the virus, raising the total to 17. The health ministry said 11 people were currently receiving ICU treatment for their infections.
By Lisa Schnirring
Available at www.cidrap.umn.edu/cidrap/content/influenza/swineflu/news/sep0710flu-br.html
Labels: flu, flu activity, flu season, H1N1, infections, pandemic, pandemic virus, WHO 0 comments
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Seasonal Flu: International Situation Update
Thursday, September 9, 2010
This report provides an update to the international flu situation using data reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) on September 3.
Global Flu Activity Update
This report was created from a variety of sources, including regional WHO reports, Country reports, and CDC field staff updates. Updates are listed below under the appropriate region.
Northern Temperate
United States
The numbers of laboratory positive influenza samples increased from week 33 to week 34, but remain at a very low level. In week 34, all influenza-positive samples were influenza A, with a mixture of A(H3) and 2009 H1N1 (based on U.S. WHO/National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) data).
China
In southern China, numbers of specimens testing positive for influenza decreased in week 33, and influenza A accounted for 82.9% of positive samples (67% H3N2, 25% 2009 H1N1). In northern China, positive influenza results have been low for several weeks, and influenza A accounted for 97.1% of positive samples (85% H3N2, 9% 2009 H1N1) (based on data provided by the Chinese National Influenza Center).
Southern Temperate
South America
In Argentina, positive respiratory specimens for influenza have decreased since week 24, and influenza B is the predominant influenza virus.
In Chile, positive respiratory specimens for influenza increased in week 33, and flu-positives are a mix of influenza A and B (20% of influenza-positive samples are H3N2, 12% are 2009 H1N1, and 18% are influenza B, based on WHO Pacific American Health Organization (PAHO) data).
Africa
In South Africa, among samples tested through severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) surveillance, influenza positive samples increased from week 33 to 34, and the majority of positive samples are influenza B (based on South Africa National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) data).
Tropical
Thailand
At Queen Sirikit Children’s hospital in Bangkok, rates of confirmed influenza among children 15 years and younger increased each week in August. Cases were predominantly influenza A (no subtype information) based on data collected through the International Emerging Infections Program (IEIP) and Global Disease Detection (GDD) Thailand).
Vietnam
Twice the proportion of influenza like illness (ILI) samples tested in-country in August were positive for influenza compared to July (87% of influenza-positive samples are A(H3), 12% are B, 1% 2009 H1N1, based on data reported by CDC field staff).
Selected Highlights
• On August 10, 2010, the WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, declared an end to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, but noted that 2009 H1N1 virus will likely continue to circulate for years to come, taking on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus.
• On February 18, 2010, WHO published recommendations for the following viruses to be used for influenza vaccines in the 2010-2011 influenza season of the Northern Hemisphere:
o an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
o an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus*;
o a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
* A/Wisconsin/15/2009 is an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus and is a 2010 Southern Hemisphere vaccine virus.
September 8, 2010, 4:00 PM ET
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/international/activity.htm
Global Flu Activity Update
This report was created from a variety of sources, including regional WHO reports, Country reports, and CDC field staff updates. Updates are listed below under the appropriate region.
Northern Temperate
United States
The numbers of laboratory positive influenza samples increased from week 33 to week 34, but remain at a very low level. In week 34, all influenza-positive samples were influenza A, with a mixture of A(H3) and 2009 H1N1 (based on U.S. WHO/National Respiratory and Enteric Virus Surveillance System (NREVSS) data).
China
In southern China, numbers of specimens testing positive for influenza decreased in week 33, and influenza A accounted for 82.9% of positive samples (67% H3N2, 25% 2009 H1N1). In northern China, positive influenza results have been low for several weeks, and influenza A accounted for 97.1% of positive samples (85% H3N2, 9% 2009 H1N1) (based on data provided by the Chinese National Influenza Center).
Southern Temperate
South America
In Argentina, positive respiratory specimens for influenza have decreased since week 24, and influenza B is the predominant influenza virus.
In Chile, positive respiratory specimens for influenza increased in week 33, and flu-positives are a mix of influenza A and B (20% of influenza-positive samples are H3N2, 12% are 2009 H1N1, and 18% are influenza B, based on WHO Pacific American Health Organization (PAHO) data).
Africa
In South Africa, among samples tested through severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) surveillance, influenza positive samples increased from week 33 to 34, and the majority of positive samples are influenza B (based on South Africa National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) data).
Tropical
Thailand
At Queen Sirikit Children’s hospital in Bangkok, rates of confirmed influenza among children 15 years and younger increased each week in August. Cases were predominantly influenza A (no subtype information) based on data collected through the International Emerging Infections Program (IEIP) and Global Disease Detection (GDD) Thailand).
Vietnam
Twice the proportion of influenza like illness (ILI) samples tested in-country in August were positive for influenza compared to July (87% of influenza-positive samples are A(H3), 12% are B, 1% 2009 H1N1, based on data reported by CDC field staff).
Selected Highlights
• On August 10, 2010, the WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan, declared an end to the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic, but noted that 2009 H1N1 virus will likely continue to circulate for years to come, taking on the behavior of a seasonal influenza virus.
• On February 18, 2010, WHO published recommendations for the following viruses to be used for influenza vaccines in the 2010-2011 influenza season of the Northern Hemisphere:
o an A/California/7/2009 (H1N1)-like virus;
o an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus*;
o a B/Brisbane/60/2008-like virus.
* A/Wisconsin/15/2009 is an A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2)-like virus and is a 2010 Southern Hemisphere vaccine virus.
September 8, 2010, 4:00 PM ET
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/international/activity.htm
Labels: Africa, Argentina, CDC, Chile, China, flu, H1N1, influenza, international, pandemic, south africa, South America, Thailand, tropical, United States, WHO 0 comments
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
