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Updated: May 20, 2026
14:56
Remote Laboratory Management: Respiratory Virus Diagnostics
Published on: April 6, 2019
Infectious diseases among travellers and migrants in Europe, EuroTravNet 2010
P Gautret1, J P Cramer, V Field
1University Hospital Institute for Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Marseille, France.
Summary
Travelers are bringing more malaria and dengue fever to Europe, with significant increases observed in Plasmodium falciparum malaria, P. vivax malaria, and dengue fever cases. Campylobacter infections and tuberculosis also rose, highlighting the need for travel health advice.
Area of Science:
- * Infectious Diseases
- * Travel Medicine
- * Public Health
Background:
- * International travel facilitates the introduction of infectious diseases into new regions.
- * Understanding travel-associated morbidity is crucial for public health surveillance in Europe.
- * Emerging infections pose a continuous threat to European populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To analyze trends in travel-associated illnesses reported by returning travelers.
- * To identify increases in specific infectious diseases with potential for European spread.
- * To assess the role of travelers in the emergence of public health concerns.
Main Methods:
- * Retrospective analysis of diagnoses from 7,408 returning travelers across 16 EuroTravNet sites.
- * Comparison of 2010 data with data from 2008 and 2009 to identify trends.
- * Statistical analysis to determine the significance of observed changes in disease incidence.
Main Results:
- * Significant increases in Plasmodium falciparum malaria (4% to 6%), P. vivax malaria (0.5% to 1%), and dengue fever (2% to 5%) were observed.
- * Campylobacter infections causing acute diarrhea increased from 7% to 12% between 2008 and 2010.
- * Pulmonary tuberculosis cases tripled, and chronic Chagas disease, schistosomiasis, and cutaneous larva migrans were also reported.
Conclusions:
- * Travelers play a significant role in introducing and potentially spreading infectious diseases in Europe.
- * There is a notable rise in travel-related malaria, dengue fever, and Campylobacter infections.
- * Enhanced travel health advice and prophylaxis are essential to mitigate the risk of imported diseases.
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