What to Do If You Get COVID While Traveling

In a perfect scenario you’d be the picture of health while traveling. But COVID-19 continues to swirl worldwide, leaving a very real risk that you could pick up the illness on your next trip. It happened to Samantha Saenz, founder of the food and travel blog Eat Well. Adventure Often., while she was on a cruise last year. Saenz says she came down with the virus during the last four days of her 15-day voyage from Florida to California.

“I was initially really tired…and couldn’t figure out why,” she says. But after going on an ATV tour, Saenz says she had body aches and felt lethargic, and that’s when it clicked. “I self-tested, and sure enough I had COVID,” she says. Saenz ended up isolating in her room for the rest of the trip and got a Wi-Fi package so she could work and entertain herself. However, she had to change her original plans to spend time with friends in Los Angeles after the cruise ended. “I felt awful still and was infectious, so I ended up renting a car and driving myself to my friend’s vacant house in [Las] Vegas,” she says. “I spent a week there trying to get better.”

Saenz says the experience turned into a fun side trip, giving her the chance to check out the desert and Las Vegas’s Neon Museum, both of which had been on her bucket list. Of course, though, she would have preferred not to have gotten sick at all. Unfortunately, Saenz isn’t the only person who’s experienced something like this. Here’s what infectious disease doctors recommend doing if you find yourself in a similar situation.

Be honest with your travel buddies

Many people don’t want to come out and say they have COVID-19, but it’s important to tell the people you’re traveling with to help lower the odds you’ll spread the illness, says William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist and professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

If you were planning to share a hotel room with someone else and can afford it, see if you can get your own space. In a shared house, claim a bedroom you can isolate in, and use a separate bathroom if possible.

Look up your local health care options

If you’re at high risk of becoming seriously ill or developing complications from COVID-19, Dr. Schaffner says it’s best to figure out where to seek medical care at your destination before traveling. You should also get the updated COVID-19 vaccine ahead of your trip. That will lower your chance of infection or severe illness, he points out. But if you’re already away and get ill, it’s worth researching local urgent care facilities and hospitals just in case you end up needing immediate care.

Know when to stop isolating—and keep masking

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says it’s fine to be out and about if it’s been 24 hours since you had a fever (without the help of fever-reducing drugs) and your symptoms have improved during that time. Still, the agency recommends wearing a high-quality mask for five days after isolation if you’ll be in contact with anyone.

That’s less important when you’re outside and keeping your distance from other people, Dr. Schaffner says. “The risk of infecting others when you’re outdoors goes way down,” he says. But he points out that you can still spread the virus when you’re in close quarters outside, making it important to wear a mask if you’re, say, standing in line at a theme park or attending a crowded outdoor concert.

Try to get some downtime

Everybody knows that rest is key to recovery, but it can be hard to slow down when you have plans. Saenz took it easy once she tested positive for COVID-19 on her cruise. However, she says she probably pushed herself too hard afterward. “When I got off the ship in Los Angeles, I still had to get my rental car and drive myself to Vegas,” she says. “I felt so awful, and looking back maybe I should have just gotten an Airbnb in Los Angeles, but I wanted to know I was safe at my friend’s house.”

Even if you’re vaccinated COVID-19 can make you feel drained, says Thomas A. Russo, MD, professor and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University at Buffalo’s medical school. Of course, if you’re still infectious, you should avoid activities where there’s a chance you’ll spread the virus. But even if your plans don’t put others at risk, Dr. Russo suggests taking a day or two to rest instead of sticking with your original schedule. “That can make things worse for you,” he notes.

Look into your airline’s policy

Airline policies can be a little tricky to navigate, even when it comes to something out of your control like COVID-19. Whether you can change or cancel your flight (and how much it costs to do so) often depends on what sort of ticket you bought. For example, business class tickets may offer more flexibility than economy fares, though it varies by airline and can change once you’re within 24 hours of your scheduled departure. Travel insurance might cover a COVID-19 cancellation, but you’ll have to check your policy. You can also try calling the airline and explaining your situation to see if they’ll make an exception to their rules. “There is some latitude for serious illnesses, but whether they’ll afford you that for COVID versus hospitalization, I’m not sure,” Dr. Russo says.

Tempting as it may be to fly while you’re still infectious to save money, doctors say you shouldn’t. “The people around you will be sitting ducks,” Dr. Schaffner says. On top of that, you can end up feeling worse, says infectious disease expert Amesh A. Adalja, MD, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. If you’re already dealing with shortness of breath, it will only get worse when you’re at a high altitude, he says. But if you’re just experiencing symptoms like fatigue or a residual cough, Dr. Adalja says travel shouldn’t be a problem. However, you should still wear a mask to protect others.

Be as flexible as possible

Pivoting from your vacation itinerary can be tough, but getting sick doesn’t mean you’re out of options. Saenz says she considered several possibilities when her cruise ended, including continuing to isolate on board during the ship’s next voyage or starting her journey home in a rental car and catching a flight once she was no longer infectious. “I still have friends in Austin [where I used to live], and I have never seen Arizona or New Mexico, so I thought it could be fun just to jump in a rental and drive,” she says. “The thing to remember is there is always a solution, so just try to stay calm and think about what would be best for you and others.”

While Saenz says it was no fun being sick, she ultimately had a better time than she thought she would after testing positive. “All in all, it ended up being an even better trip than expected because of my little side quests I got to go on,” she says.

 

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Follow These Prevention Steps To Safeguard Your Liver

Hepatitis is a condition which causes inflammation in the liver. It starts to damage the liver gradually. This condition prevents the liver to function properly which further triggers several health issues. World hepatitis day is observed on 28 July every year. This year the World Health Organisation has introduced the theme- invest in eliminating hepatitis and urges to eliminate hepatitis by 2030 globally. Through this day WHO encourages people to access hepatitis testing, treatment and prevention. As an individual, you can take a few steps to prevent yourself and your family from hepatitis. These steps will help you safeguard your lungs from this serious health condition.

Hepatitis prevention steps

1. Proper sanitation and hygiene

It is the most basic and the primary step to control the spread of hepatitis. With some simple hygiene measure, you can reduce the risk of hepatitis. Some of the steps may include:

Hand washing is the best way to control the risk of hepatitis. It will keep the spread of the infection at bay. You should wash your hands before and after using a restroom. Also, make sure that you first wash your hands after returning to your home. Wash your hands properly with soap and water every time. This will remove all the possible infection.

While preparing foods as well you need to ensure that your hands are clean. Also, clean your hands while handling cooked food. You should also avoid unclean food and water. While eating out choose the outlet wisely. Do not pick street food and choose a clean place. At home, avoid eating raw meat and fish. Not just meat and fish, avoid raw vegetables as well, especially which cannot be peeled.

2. Take precautions while traveling

You should avoid travelling to places where the virus is common. If due to any unavoidable resins you have to travel that region, you must take necessary precaution to prevent yourself from the virus.

• Drink only bottled water and use the same for brushing and cooking
• Skip street food and eat at such a place where cleanliness measures are practiced
• Do not eat salads or any kind of food which has raw vegetables in it
• Wash your hands before and after eating
• You should also avoid ice cubes as much as possible

3. Hepatitis vaccine

Use of vaccine is the best way to prevent hepatitis for a lifetime. Vaccines are available to avoid hepatitis A and B. Vaccine for C is yet to be discovered. Vaccine for hepatitis E is available in some parts of the world.

Since hepatitis is contagious you need to follow these steps to preserve your liver health.

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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How You Could Be Bringing Bed Bugs Into Your Home

Bed bugs are a terrible nuisance, and they’re sadly becoming increasingly widespread all around the world. Once they appear in your home, these blood-sucking pests spread like wildfire, infecting upholstered furniture, plush toys, luggage, and clothing, where they can survive for months without feeding. For that reason, getting rid of bed bugs is extremely challenging and time-consuming.

 

Even if you don’t have a bed bug problem at this point in time, you should be aware of these dangers and mindful of the ways bed bugs can get in your home. After all, prevention is even more important than early detection and pest elimination, especially since it’s often us, the homeowners, who end up unwittingly introducing these pests into our homes. 

 

How can bed bugs get into your home?

Bed bugs are tiny brown bugs that are widespread in every continent where humans live. Scientists found them in human dwellings that are over three thousand years old. But how did these pesky insects manage to spread and pester humans for so long? For an insect that’s about the size of an apple seed, it’s relatively easy to hide in a bag, plush toy, or latch onto clothing without being noticed. 

 

In the past, bed bugs were only found in hotels and other communal living spaces, but they are now increasingly common at residential dwellings, shopping centers, offices, and restaurants. Below, we list 9 common scenarios through which you could end up with a bed bug problem: 

 

Travel accommodations: As we’ve already mentioned, hotels, hostels, and the like are a place where bed bugs reside quite often. They could be hiding in the mattress or the carpet and make their way into your luggage, shoes, or clothing. So, you could end up bringing more than just a few souvenirs from your trip home...

Communal living situations: Students living in dorms, older adults who reside at retirement homes, and anyone living in an apartment building are at a higher risk of getting bed bugs. Bed bugs can spread from one apartment or room into another one through electrical boxes, outlets, and shared spaces like laundry rooms. So, if one of the new residents or someone visiting them brought in a few bed bugs, the entire building may end up having them soon. 

 

Work, retail locations, and public transportation: You don’t have to stay somewhere for a long time to pick up bed bugs. Offices, schools, gyms, shopping centers, clothing stores, and even public transportation like airplanes or buses are all prime locations for bed bugs to congregate.

Furniture: Purchasing vintage or second-hand furniture is an excellent way to refresh your interior in a cost-effective manner, but you must be wary that some pieces could be infested with bed bugs. Although rare, even new furniture that is moved in the same vehicle used to haul away old furniture could become infested. 

 

Yard sales: Don’t get us wrong, we love a good bargain just like the other person, but when you’re purchasing used items, you should always be wary of bed bugs. Even though these pests prefer fabric or fur, they can survive inside electronic appliances, books, shoe boxes, and any dark places where they can hide.

Animals: Humans are not the only victim of bed bugs. Quite often, bed bugs feed on farm animals, especially chickens, as well as your pet cats and dogs. The pests can also live in cat castles, pet carriers, and pet beds, so make sure to inspect these items before you introduce them into your home, especially if you’ve purchased a used item. 

 

Guests: Have family or friends from out of town decided to visit you for a couple of days? Unfortunately, this too can result in a bed bug infestation. Students returning from a dorm for the holidays, as well as friends who took a plane or any other public transportation to get to your home, could arrive with “uninvited guests.” 

 

Bed Bug Prevention Tips  

As you can see, these opportunistic pests will take any opportunity to infect a new home, and avoiding all of these potentially dangerous scenarios is often impossible. But is there a way you can protect yourself from an infestation? Yes, bed bug awareness and a few easy prevention tricks go a long way. Here are a few tips for you to consider: 

 

1. When traveling, avoid placing your bags, coats, and suitcases on beds, upholstered furniture, or on the floor. Hanging your clothing so that it doesn’t touch the walls or furniture, and keeping luggage on a stand or cabinet can be helpful. Upon returning home, inspect your luggage and its contents for bugs, wash your clothes, and put them in a hot dryer for 10-15 minutes.

2. When purchasing clothes, stuffed toys, or any textiles, especially second-hand ones, it’s a good idea to wash them first in hot water (122°F or 50°C) or dry them for 10-15 minutes on high heat. 

 

3. Inspect furniture or any second-hand items carefully before bringing them inside your home. Lift the cushions and look closely in-between the seams of upholstered furniture. 

 

4. Steam is a very effective way to eradicate bed bugs and their eggs. If you have a steamer, run it over any items you suspect could be infected. Make sure to hold the steamer as closely to the surface as possible, and repeat in a month, just in case.

Read the next post to know Signs of bed bug problem

 

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.   

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Don't lose your COVID-19 vaccine card -- you'll need it in these situations

When you receive your COVID-19 vaccination, you'll receive a COVID-19 vaccine card that shows your personal information, the date you were vaccinated and the type of vaccine you received. While the debate over whether a digital vaccine passport is a good idea or not continues, your vaccine card is the best evidence to show proof of vaccination.

Once you get a vaccine card, you'll need to keep it in a safe place for when you'll likely need it. Keep reading below to find out more about what to do with your vaccination card, what to do if you lose it and if you should laminate it.

What you need to know about your vaccine card

Your COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card shows proof of your vaccination: your name, date of birth, which vaccine you received and when you were vaccinated. The card is currently the main proof of vaccination -- although some states like New York are developing digital vaccine passports, and cruise lines and airlines may require them in the future. For now, the vaccine card is the most important proof of vaccination, and you should keep it in a safe place and take it with you when you travel.

"The vaccine card is important because we don't quite know what the future of travel and socializing publicly, with or without masks, looks like," says Dr. Vivek Cherian, a Baltimore-based internal medicine physician.

"Always have a copy of your card on hand (particularly when you travel) because you never know when you may be asked to provide proof of vaccination. Keeping it easily accessible in your carry-on, purse or computer bag is best," says Cherian.

What to do if you lose your vaccination card

If something happens to your vaccine card or you lose it, you should first contact the site where you were vaccinated and ask for a replacement. Wherever you were vaccinated -- even if it's a pharmacy or drive-thru vaccination site -- will have your records on file. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends reaching out to your state's immunization information system if you're having trouble getting a replacement card.

"The most streamlined course of action is to contact the clinic/location where you received your vaccine, and request a duplicate record. A few of my colleagues have already done this and had no issues," says Cherian.

Should you get your vaccination card laminated? 

Right now, there's no solid answer about whether you should laminate your vaccine card. Some say that laminating it is not a good idea since you won't be able to add another vaccine dose to the card -- and vaccine booster shots are likely. Others say that laminating your card is OK if you are worried about it getting damaged or soiled. Staples and Office Depot are offering free vaccine card lamination for those who want it.

Cherian does not recommend laminating vaccine cards for several reasons. "Lamination of your vaccine card can smudge the ink; that can make your card difficult to read," he says. 

"If you've received the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, you will need a second dose that needs to be updated on your card," he continued. "Also, there's a possibility that in the future we may need booster shots, which would also need to be updated on the vaccine card."

What to do with your vaccine card

Once you receive your vaccine card, take a photo of it on your phone in case you misplace it. Then make sure to keep it in a safe place. Take note of where and when you might need to show proof of vaccination (see below) and bring your card when it's required. 

"I encourage all my patients and family members to make a few copies of their vaccine card (front and back). Keep the copies in a safe location," says Cherian. He also advises against posting a photo of your card on social media since the personal information on the card could make you vulnerable to identity theft.

Will you be required to show your vaccine card to anyone? 

As of right now, the most likely situations that you'd need to show your vaccine card is for travel (especially international) and to attend large gatherings, like concerts and sporting events.

"For international travel it's important to inquire whether your vaccine card will be needed for each leg of your journey," says Cherian. As of now, some cruise lines have said they will require vaccination proof, and airlines may soon join. When you travel, you should always check with your specific airline and destination since requirements may vary based on where you are traveling and how. 

"Currently there are no federal or state requirements/circumstances where people need to show their vaccine card. As the economy continues to reopen, it's certainly possible (even likely) some employers may require that their employees show proof of vaccination before returning to or starting a new job," says Cherian.

This is only for your information, kindly take the advice of your doctor for medicines, exercises and so on.     

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