California Declares Whooping Cough Epidemic

The following is a story published in the LA Times (Passport Health Los Angeles has the tetanus, diptheria, perutssis vaccine in stock-call for an appointment):

Officials are concerned about a rise in reported cases and five infant deaths so far. Vaccinations are urged for elderly adults, pregnant women, children and those who may have contact with infants.

July 20, 2010
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Los Angeles Times

California public health officials on Monday strongly urged elderly adults, children and pregnant women to get vaccinated against whooping cough, citing an epidemic in the state that is on track to be the worst in 50 years.

Nearly 1,500 cases of whooping cough have been reported statewide this year, nearly five times the number of cases last year, according to Dr. Gil Chavez, the state's epidemiologist.

Babies under 6 months old are the most vulnerable because even those vaccinated have yet to develop immunity, Chavez said.

Five infants have died of whooping cough so far this year, all under 3 months old. Two of the deaths were in Los Angeles County. A sixth possible infant death was still being investigated Monday in L.A. County, Chavez said.

Last year three infants died of the disease, one each in Los Angeles, Kern and San Bernardino counties. All of the whooping cough deaths since 1996 have been infants under 3 months old, according to Ken August, a spokesman for the California Department of Public Health.

As of July 16, L.A. County had reported 289 possible whooping cough cases for the year, including 73 confirmed infections and 54 likely infections, according to the Department of Public Health. The county 156 reported cases of whooping cough last year.

The highly contagious upper-respiratory infection, also known as pertussis, initially may be mistaken for a cold, becoming more serious as it escalates and often causing those infected to make a tell-tale "whooping" sound as they gasp for air.

Pertussis infections typically peak every five years, Chavez said. The last outbreak in California was in 2005, when 3,182 cases were reported statewide and eight infants died. Since then, a booster vaccine was developed for adolescents and adults.

"It's time for Californians to help us by getting vaccinated and protecting themselves," Chavez said.
The Department of Public Health on Monday expanded its vaccination recommendation to include children age 7 and older; adults age 64 and older; women before, during and immediately after pregnancy; and anyone who may have contact with pregnant women or infants.

Dr. Jack Chou, a Baldwin Park family physician, said he was "heartened" by the new recommendations.
"That will allow us to give this vaccine to grandparents who care for infants," said Chou, president of the California Academy of Family Physicians.

Documentary Film Festival In Los Angeles and New York

Documentary films can change the world through their unique portrayal of the issues your organization cares about.
If you love documentary films, and the way they portray the issues you care about, you'll want to attend and support the the IDA’s 14th Annual DocuWeeks™ Theatrical Documentary Showcase in New York and Los Angeles.

Held from July 30th - August 19th, DocuWeeks™ screens featuring 18 groundbreaking features and 10 shorts for this annual showcase of documentary films qualifying for Oscar® consideration. DocuWeeks gives people, like your members, more of an opportunity to see these inspiring works.

Please find more information and the film trailers at the following link:


http://www.newamericanvision.com/docuweeks/highlight.html

High Schoolers Go On Adventure of a Lifetime

Several teenagers needing travel vaccines have come through Passport Health Los Angeles talking about impending adventures to faraway places. Some talked of doing community service. Some talked of confidence building exercises. All were going with an organization called Rustic Pathways. I wanted to learn more so I contacted the national sales director and trip guide, Chris Stakich.

Chris let me know that Rustic Pathways was started in 1983 by a man who had fallen in love with the Australian outback and wanted to bring this type of adventure to high schoolers in the United States. The job appealed to Chris because it entailed being so much more than a tour guide. He is a combination guide, teacher and coach who inspires youth and shapes the lives of future leaders. The concentration is on developing global compassion and sensitivity thereby creating global citizens.

70% of the trips that they offer involve community service in 17 countries. There are over 125 programs available including home stays in small villages, elephant conservation, leadership and Spanish immersion. There are also high adventure trips that involve jumping out of airplanes!

These trips can be revolutionary for some kids. Chris recalled one student who travelled around the world for 8 months to 26 countries. He was able to see the Dalai Lama in India and ride across the desert on a camel among many other adventures. He just graduated Harvard where his studies had an international focus.

Chris feels that the programs really allow kids to appreciate their lives in this country. Their problems often become trivial compared to the issues kids face worldwide. He can see their attitudes soften and compassion grow.

There is a foundation you can read about at rusticpathways.org . They offer limited scholarships each year. Chris’s e-mail is: chris@rusticpathways.com.

Lifeafter50.com

Passport Health Los Angeles gets a mention in this month's article called "Colombia's Renaissance." Check out the great tips in this online travel magazine!
http://www.lifeafter50.com/Travel/International-Travel/COLOMBIA-S-RENAISSANCE

Local Photographer Travels to India

Kari Dietrich is a freelance interactive producer and photography student who has recently found an interest in development issues in India, especially in educational development and population matters. A friend involved in humanitarian work suggested she volunteer with Visions (link-http://visionsofthefuture.org), an educational development organization based in Orange County. So, Miss Dietrich decided to combine her passions, and begin work on a photo series which took up 3/4 of her 10 week journey. Kari came in to Passport Health to receive her vaccines prior to her flight to Chennai. We met up with her at Passport Health Los Angeles when she came in for her follow up vaccines.
Visions volunteers teach leadership, organizational and creative thinking skills. The organization spent one week with 9th graders of a rural school, and then another week at an urban school, witnessing the myriad of challenges that typical public education in India.
From there, Kari and her camera traveled about the country for several more weeks, visiting and capturing educational development organizations, and a rural women's health center in Dindigul. Glimpses of effective programming for the under-privileged abounded, most noticeably with the OM Foundation--an organization that hand-picks primary school-aged slum children and supports them on their long journey down a new educational path, learning all subjects in English, much to the bafflement of the parents.
Throughout, Kari picked up her digital slr and pointed it into eyes young and old, each filled with wisdom that goes beyond years. She is working with Visions on a fundraising event that will feature an exhibit of her work from India. You can see some samples of her work at: http://notamember.org. She will begin attending the University of Missouri this fall, pursuing a master's in international convergence journalism, continuing to learn how to tell visual stories on global development matters.

PBS Frontline Shows Both Sides of Vaccine Debate

Here is a link to PBS's Program call "Vaccine Wars" which aired April 27, 2010:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/vaccines/view/?utm_campaign=homepage&utm_medium=proglist&utm_source=proglist

Let us know what you think.

Passport Health LA Team Member Ventures to Istanbul

On March 19, 2010, (armed with immunizations from Passport Health LA) I was lucky enough to travel to Istanbul, Turkey. The sights and sounds of the city remain with me and remind me all at once of a simpler way of life and of the realities of living in a metropolis of 20 million people.
I of course visited the big tourist sites like the cathedral-turned -mosque- turned kind of both- Aya Sophia. Topkapi palace was a fascinating look into the former lives of the sultans and included a harem complex and a kitchen equipped to serve 5,000 people daily. The Blue Mosque (my first time in one) was one of the most beautiful buildings I’d ever seen. I was amazed at the tile and stained glass pieces and was moved by the years of reverence and prayer that the walls vibrated with. The spice bazaar was a sight to behold. Locals haggled with vendors of all kinds. Spices, textiles, teas, lamps, clothes, plants—WOW!
Friends teaching English in Istanbul were my hosts and I definitely got treated to some “off the beaten path “local flavor. They live in Uzkudar which is on the Asian side of Turkey. It’s more conservative with a lot less tourists. We visited a salty sailor looking chain smoking artist named Bihrat, and practiced the small amount of Turkish we knew at the local bakeries and markets. I got hooked on pistachio and walnut baklava and locally made Turkish delight—mmmmm.
What I loved most was buying fresh food daily from the market place, walking up the 7 flights of stairs to my friend’s apartment and looking out at the beautiful view of Asia and Europe over the Bosporus strait. I also loved being out with the people and away from all of the chain stores in the United States. The whole while there, I only saw one McDonalds (they had Kumpir lamb burgers!), one Burger King and of course Starbucks. All of these were in Tunel-a “SoHo” like part of town on the European side.
I know that progress is inevitable. Turkey is anxious to join the EU. But I hope it is able to maintain its old world feel and charm. Like the scores of fisherman on the Galata Bridge, the chestnut vendors on the street and the relaxing ferry boat rides between the continents. It was truly a trip I will never forget.