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Travel epidemiology--a global perspective.
Robert Steffen1, Chiara deBernardis, Ana Baños
1Division of Communicable Diseases, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Travellers' Health, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Sumatrastrasse 30, Zurich CH-8006, Switzerland. travclin@ifspm.unizh.ch
International Journal of Antimicrobial Agents
|March 5, 2003
Summary
International travel poses significant health risks, including travellers' diarrhoea and malaria, especially in regions with poor hygiene and endemic diseases. Understanding these risks is crucial for implementing effective preventive measures for global travellers.
Area of Science:
- * Global Health
- * Travel Medicine
- * Infectious Diseases
Background:
- * Millions of international travelers visit high-risk regions annually, encountering pathogens uncommon in their home countries.
- * Health risks are influenced by destination endemicity, travel duration, traveler behavior, and preventive actions.
- * Travellers' diarrhea and malaria are significant concerns, alongside sexually transmitted infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To outline the primary health risks associated with international travel.
- * To emphasize the importance of risk assessment for preventive strategies.
- * To highlight common travel-related illnesses and their risk factors.
Main Methods:
- * Review of existing literature on travel-related health risks.
- * Analysis of incidence rates for common travel ailments.
- * Identification of risk factors influencing disease acquisition during travel.
Main Results:
- * Travellers' diarrhea affects 25-90% of visitors within two weeks in areas with poor hygiene.
- * Malaria risk varies by region, with Plasmodium falciparum dominant in tropical Africa and Plasmodium vivax in Asia and Latin America.
- * Sexually transmitted infections are prevalent, with a notable percentage of travelers engaging in unprotected casual sex.
Conclusions:
- * A rational approach to travel health requires understanding specific risks in different destinations.
- * Preventive measures, including hygiene and chemoprophylaxis, are essential for mitigating travel-related illnesses.
- * Travelers should be aware of infectious disease risks and practice safe behaviors to protect their health abroad.