World Rabies Day today!

World Rabies Day is observed each year on 28 September - on the anniversary of the death of Louis Pasteur who developed the first efficacious rabies vaccine with his colleagues.  This day is the 7th of these such events and it aims to raise awareness about the impact of rabies on human beings and animals, and provide information on how to prevent the disease.  The Global Alliance for Rabies Control is the leading organization working for the global prevention of rabies.  They have some powerful information on their website and some helpful educational videos - see here or click on image of the home page below.

Global Alliance fot Rabies Control 

New EMC has gone live!

The Electronics Medicines Compendium has been promising the launch of new features on their website for a while now and it has just gone live.  You need to register but once done (it was a very simple process) you then can use facilities to 'Bookmark Medicines', 'Save Searches' and 'Receive updates about the EMC'.  I'm trying to update my malaria chemoprophylaxis chart so have already book marked the relevant drugs, a very handy feature.  Click on the image below to register!  

New website from Sanofi Pasteur MSD for travel health and also flu!

Sanofi Pasteur MSD (SPMSD) have created a new informative, visually attractive and easy to navigate website for travellers at www.areyouready2go.co.uk Aimed at saving time in the pre travel health consultation, the website gives travellers the opportunity to compile relevant information about their forthcoming trip before arriving for their appointment in the clinic.  A section entitled 'my records' is yet to be launched online but will provide a record of previous vaccinations and be able to set up handy e-mail or text message reminders for the next appointment.  A separate section for healthcare professionals will also provide information about SPMSD vaccines, e learning content on travel and useful links.  Click on the image below to see the website.

A website all about flu is also available.  This includes a very useful section about 'How the immune system works'.  To go directly to this section click HERE and to go to the home page of the website, click on the image below.

2013 Malaria Guidelines

Guidelines for malaria prevention in travellers from the UK updated for 2013 have been published on 22nd August 2013 - see here for details.  This guidance has been long awaited and to download the PDF directly click on the image below.  I've written a document about 'what's new' in the document - to see this go to the news page of my website by clicking here 

New Guidance Toolkit for Tattooing and Body Piercing

There is no regulation for these procedures so a new guidance document has been compiled by the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, Public Health England, the Health and Safety Laboratory and the Tattooing and Piercing Industry Union.  Within the document are some helpful appendices e.g. protocols and some information leaflets for after care following a tattoo or body piercing procedure.  Whilst written as guidance for those working in this industry to promote best practice, the document provides interesting and useful reading for healthcare professionals.

To see information on the CIEH click here
To see information on the PHE click here
To obtain a copy of the document directly click on the image below

Another page added to my website

I've recently added a 'What's New' page to my website found within the 'Home' menu.  This page lets users know items that have been more recently been adde,d or any items updated on the site.  Click on the image below to go directly to the page.

A Blast from the Past!

I was surfing the internet for some travel related information the other day and came across this leaflet that used to be available from the Post Office - do you remember it?  It was a good publication, but I don't think it's available any longer - at least it certainly isn't displayed in the leaflet holders.  It was published in 2005, introduced the new EHIC card and had a good section on provision of healthcare in other countries.   I've attached the link here so that you can have a look if you like - just click on the image!

Click on the image above to
obtain the PDF of the publication