Silfra Diving in Iceland
In June 2016, I went on a trip to Iceland. The overwhelming highlight of the trip was having the opportunity to dry-suit dive at Silfra. Before visiting Iceland an intrepid friend of mine had told me of her adventure fresh-water diving between 2 tectonic plates in Iceland.
Sea Sickness Tips
Who gets sea sickness? Sea sickness can ruin sea voyages whether on small yachts or larger cruise ships. Although anyone can get sea sickness in severe conditions, some 20-30 % of the population are more prone, especially migraine sufferers, women and children. Situations that increase susceptibility include changes in boat motion, on-board reading, heavy weather, passenger […]
The delayed 2016 Influenza Vaccine
Dr Cormac Carey, Medical Director, TMA Toowoomba With the 100th birthday of CSL coinciding with Anzac Day this month and the first zephyrs of Winter’s winds arriving it is time to look at the turmoil re this year’s rollout of the 2016 influenza vaccine which has been anything but smooth. CSL started producing influenza vaccine in 1944 along […]
Influenza Vaccine 2016
WHY SHOULD I HAVE A FLU SHOT FOR MY TRIP OVERSEAS?? Dr Michael Long TMA Narre Warren Huh?! I don’t need a flu shot for going to Thailand, Europe or the US do I? Isn’t the flu just a cold or the “man flu” or something the oldies get? WRONG WRONG WRONG! Keep reading fellow […]
The real risk from terrorism
Dr Messieh Burnie TMA After the brutal attack on Brussells on the 22nd March 2016, and Paris in November 15, it is helpful to put the risks of these attacks into perspective. The risk of dying from a terror attack is still very small. It’s estimated that the risk of dying in a terror attack is […]
Meningococcal Disease
Dr Jon Barrell The Travel Medicine consultation can save lives at home and abroad. It is the ideal opportunity to discuss the vaccines to reduce the risk of Meningitis, Pneumonia, and Shingles (that very painful rash caused by the Chicken Pox virus). Since mid-2015, a new Meningococcal Vaccine has been recommended by the Australian Government to […]
The New Epidemic – Zika Virus
Zika Virus expands its’ grip Dr Rowena Sheppard, TMA Cressy Clinic Goondiwindi, Qld Dominating the headlines, particularly for travellers to South America, is the very recent information on spread of mosquito borne Zika Virus, with notifications now in at least 30 countries, some in alarming numbers.
Zika Virus in Brazil
Zika Virus outbreak in Brazil causes panic Dr Donald Leitch Shoal Bay and Anna Bay TMA clinic NSW The mosquito-borne Zika virus was first recognised in Brazil in May 2015. Brazilian authorities estimate that between 500,000 and 1.5 million people have caught Zika virus in the past year. Zika causes a relatively mild flu like illness in most persons […]
Polio on the Rise
If you’re going backpacking Asia then maybe you should read this! Polio is back, and Typhoid is close behind!
Plague has not gone away
Plague or the Black death is rare in the world, but has not gone away. Plague epidemics have occurred in Africa, Asia, and South America but most human cases since the 1990s have occurred in Africa. Plague was first introduced into the United States in 1900, by rat–infested steamships that had sailed from affected areas, mostly […]