Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Meet the most knowledgeable person in the world on all aspects of the Dead Sea.


Today we are honored to have as our guest Ismail Daqour, the General Manager of Numeira, a Jordan based company that harvest and distribute products from the Dead Sea. 

Mr. Daqour is probably the most knowledgeable person in the world on all aspects of the Dead Sea. Working with the natural products for many years, Ismail knows the minerals, their benefits and why we should be using these products.


Numeira is one of two companies worldwide that have been granted governmental concessions to extract and utilize the spa elements from the Dead Sea. Join us as we discover the secrets of the lowest point of the earth.
Listen to this informative and entertaining interview: 
http://www.TravelTalkMEDIA.com/ERIC/aug24_14/TTR_ismail_daqour_aug24_14seg02_06_38min18sec.mp3



Star Clippers Adds Six Yoga-Themed Cruises in 2015


We are thrilled to be representing Star Clippers and present to our audiences the many reasons why Star Clippers is the leading small-ship experience. . . Sandy Dhuyvetter
MIAMI, Fla. (Aug. XX, 2014) — Travelers looking to do something good for their mind, body and soul can set sail on one of Star Clippers’ six scheduled yoga-themed itineraries in 2015. World-class yoga instructors will be onboard Star Clipper’s Jan. 24 and 31 Caribbean sailings, Royal Clipper’s May 16 and 23 western Mediterranean cruises and Star Flyer’s Aug. 1 and 8 Balearic Islands itineraries.
All classes are complimentary and will take place on deck in the fresh air under the billowing sails at sunrise and sunset. The instructors also will give lectures on the philosophy of yoga and advice for practice at home. All of the classes are appropriate for all skill levels, so beginners are as welcome as advanced participants.
“You can’t ask for a more relaxing yoga environment than on the open deck of a Star Clippers ship surrounded by the sea and sails,” said Mikael Krafft, owner and president of Star Clippers. “We continue to look for unique experiences to offer our health-minded guests, and the yoga classes have been met with enthusiasm.”
Yoga teacher, author and life coach Inge Schöps will join the seven-night Caribbean sailings on Star Clipper roundtrip from St. Maarten, Jan. 24 and 31, offering yoga and meditation classes. Schöps is based in Cologne, Germany, where she teaches, and she also runs yoga retreats in the Mediterranean on the Balearic Islands of Mallorca and Formentera. She is an author and has published yoga apps and e-books.
On Royal Clipper’s May 16 and 23 seven-night western Mediterranean cruises roundtrip from Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy, guests can learn Ishta-style yoga, focusing on asana, meditation, anatomy and yogic and tantric philosophy under the instruction of Raphaella Rose. A yoga practitioner for 17 years, Rose promotes friendly and accessible yoga, and has taught classes in the U.S., Great Britain and Spain, running regular retreats alongside her class schedule.
Yoga expert Christel Vollmer will join the seven-night Balearic Islands sailings on Star Flyer roundtrip from Palma de Mallorca, Aug. 1 and 8. She will give two classes daily: 60 minutes of power yoga in the morning and a 40-minute wind-down class at sunset, followed by meditation. Vollmer brings many years of teaching experience to Star Clippers, having trained under Bryan Kest, yoga guru to celebrities including Madonna, Cindy Crawford and Sting.
All classes and lectures will be conducted in English and are optional. Additional ship activities will be offered as part of the standard daily program.
Other features of a Star Clippers cruise that appeal to the health-conscious traveler include an abundance of fresh fruit daily, healthy menu options and active shore excursions including watersports and bike tours.
Cruise fares for the Caribbean sailings featuring yoga with Inge Schöps begin at $1,993, the western Med cruises with Raphaella Rose begin at $1,740, and the Balearic Islands voyages with Christel Vollmer begin at $1,575, all per person, double occupancy.
Star Clippers’ new 2015-16 brochure features significant fare savings on bookings made before Jan. 31, 2015. Access the brochure online at http://is.gd/tkcrRa. To request a hard-copy brochure, call toll-free 800-442-0556 or email brochures@starclippers.com.
To make a reservation, contact a travel professional. For information, call Star Clippers at 800-442-0551 or visit www.starclippers.com to view a video about the line or take a virtual tour of the Star Clippers ships. Keep up to date on the latest Star Clippers news by visiting us on our blog at www.starclippersblog.com, Facebook and Twitter.
MEDIA CONTACT: NewmanPR, 305-461-3300 or toll-free 855-446-7935; Julie Ellis, julie@newmanpr.com, or Buck Banks, buck@newmanpr.com.
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Star Clippers: A unique sailing adventure has only just begun …
Star Clippers offers an intimate, small-ship experience on three of the world’s largest and tallest sailing vessels where the tradition of the past combines with the modern comfort and amenities of a private yacht. The exceptional international cuisine, relaxed but elegant atmosphere and the ability to visit ports often untouched by larger cruise ships are just a few of the reasons that make Star Clippers everything but ordinary. The ships sail throughout the Caribbean and Mediterranean.

Saturday, August 23, 2014

CDC Emergency Updates including resources and Ebola cases and death reports

As a partner with CDC we have been contacted to share this information around the world. Below there are resources for all related CDC information.
Thank you ... Sandy Dhuyvetter


CDC Emergency Partners Update
2014 Ebola Response - August 22, 2014

CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center to respond to Ebola.  Below, please find resources and guidance that we hope will be useful to you and your organization.  Please share with your colleagues and networks.

In this email:
· Ebola Cases and Deaths (West Africa)
· Online Resources
· Summary Key Messages (full Key Messages document attached)

Ebola Cases and Deaths (West Africa)
Updated: August 20, 2014
·         Suspected and Confirmed Case Count: 2615
·         Suspected Case Deaths: 1427
·         Laboratory Confirmed Cases: 1528

Updates on cases and deaths can be found on the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/guinea/index.html

Online Resources

General Outbreak Information






Selected Guidance Documents (Full range of guidance documents can be found at the CDC Ebola Web site http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/index.html)

Interim Guidance for Environmental Infection Control in Hospitals for Ebola Virus http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/environmental-infection-control-in-hospitals.html (UPDATED)

Guidance on Air Medical Transport for Patients with Ebola Virus Disease http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/guidance-air-medical-transport-patients.html 


Multimedia Resources


Communication Resources for Use by International Travel Partners http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/ebola-outbreak-communication-resources (NEW)

Sequence for Putting On and Removing Personal Protective Equipment Poster  http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/pdf/ppe-poster.pdf (NEW)

Medscape video: Infection Prevention and Control of Ebola Virus Disease in U.S. Hospitals http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/index.html (NEW)

WebMD video: CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden discusses Ebola outbreak: http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/video/cdc-director-tom-frieden-md-on-ebola (NEW)

Ebola Radio Health Messages in Local Languages http://www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/outbreaks/guinea/radio-spots.html





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CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response http://www.facebook.com/CDCEmergency




Summary Key Messages
A full key messages document is attached.

·         This is the largest Ebola outbreak in history and the first in West Africa.
·         The outbreak in West Africa is worsening, but CDC, along with other U.S. government agencies and international partners, is taking steps to respond to this rapidly changing situation.
·         Ebola poses no substantial risk to the U.S. general population.  
·         On August 8, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the current Ebola outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). 
o   The PHEIC declaration underscores the need for a coordinated international response to contain the spread of Ebola.
o   Information about the PHEIC declaration is available on the WHO website www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2014/ebola-20140808/en/#.
·         A person infected with Ebola virus is not contagious until symptoms appear.
·         The virus is spread through direct contact (through broken skin or unprotected mucous membranes in, for example, the eyes, nose, or mouth) with the blood or body fluids such as, but not limited to, feces, saliva, urine, vomit, and semen of a person who is sick with Ebola, or with objects like needles that have been contaminated with the virus, or infected animals.
o   Ebola is not spread through the air or by water or, in general, by food; however, in Africa, Ebola may be spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats.
·         As of August 22, no confirmed Ebola cases have been reported in the United States.
o   In 2014, two U.S. healthcare workers who were infected with Ebola virus in Liberia were transported to a hospital in the United States. Both patients have been released from the hospital after laboratory testing confirmed that they no longer have Ebola virus circulating in their blood. CDC has advised the hospital that there is no public health concern with their release and that they do not pose a risk to household contacts or to the public.
o   CDC has received many calls from health departments and hospitals about suspected Ebola cases in travelers from the affected countries. These calls have been triaged appropriately, with some samples being sent to CDC for testing. All samples sent to CDC have thus far been negative.
o   Samples from other U.S. patients under investigation (all of whom recently traveled to West Africa) are being tested as they are received. To date, all persons under investigation in the United States have tested negative for Ebola.
·         As a precaution, CDC is communicating with American healthcare workers about how to detect and isolate patients who may have Ebola and how they can protect themselves from infection.
·         Early recognition of Ebola is important for providing appropriate patient care and preventing the spread of infection. Healthcare providers should be alert for and evaluate any patients who may have Ebola.
o   A case definition for Ebola virus disease is available at www.cdc.gov/vhf/ebola/hcp/case-definition.html.  
·         CDC and its partners at U.S. ports of entry are currently not doing enhanced screening of passengers traveling from the affected countries. However, CDC works with international public health organizations, other federal agencies, and the travel industry to identify sick travelers arriving in the United States and take public health actions to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. 
·         CDC also is assisting with exit screening and communication efforts in West Africa to prevent sick travelers from getting on planes.
·         CDC recommends that people avoid nonessential travel to Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.
·         CDC recommends that people practice enhanced precautions if traveling to Nigeria.
·         Recommendations and guidance may change as new information becomes available.



Contact us with questions, feedback, or to unsubscribe from this mailing: emergencypartners@cdc.gov

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Jordan tourist board launches online chat facility

Jordan has become the first tourism office in the Middle East to launch a live chat facility on its website, which is available five days a week.

The service has been designed to make it easier for international visitors to plan trips to the country.

Online chat is available at www.visitjordan.com in both Arabic and English from Sunday to Thursday from 08:00 to 17:00 local Amman time (GMT +3:00).

Mona Naffa and Sandy Dhuyvetter touring Jordan as they create tourism videos
to help create a trip of a lifetime for all visitors to Jordan.