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Warne, Ben, Weld, Leisa H., Cramer, Jakob P., Field, Vanessa K., Grobusch, Martin P., Caumes, Eric, Jensenius, Mogens, Gautret, Philippe, Schlagenhauf, Patricia, Castelli, Francesco, Lalloo, David 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7680-2200, Ursing, Johan, Chappuis, François, von Sonnenburg, Frank, López-Vélez, Rogelio, Rapp, Christophe, Smith, Kitty C., Parola, Philippe and Gkrania-Klotsas, Effrossyni
(2014)
'Travel-Related Infection in European Travelers, EuroTravNet 2011'. Journal of Travel Medicine, Vol 21, Issue 4, pp. 248-254.
Abstract
Background
Limited data exist on infectious diseases imported to various locations in Europe, particularly after travel within the continent.
Methods
To investigate travel-related disease relevant to Europe that is potentially preventable through pre-travel intervention, we analyzed the EuroTravNet database of 5,965 ill travelers reported by 16 centers in “Western” Europe in 2011.
Results
There were 54 cases of vaccine-preventable disease, mostly hepatitis A (n = 16), typhoid fever (n = 11), and measles (n = 8); 6 cases (including 3 measles cases) were associated with travel within “Western” Europe. Malaria was the most commonly diagnosed infection (n = 482, 8.1% of all travel-related morbidity). Among patients with malaria, the military most commonly received pre-travel advice (95%), followed by travelers for missionary, volunteer, research, or aid work (81%) but travelers visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) were least likely to receive pre-travel advice (21%). The vast majority (96%) of malaria patients were resident in “Western” Europe, but over half (56%) were born elsewhere. Other significant causes of morbidity, which could be reduced through advice and behavioral change, include Giardia (n = 221, 3.7%), dengue (n = 146, 2.4%), and schistosomiasis (n = 131, 2.2%). Of 206 (3.5%) travelers with exposure in “Western” Europe, 75% were tourists; the highest burden of disease was acute gastrointestinal infection (35% cases). Travel from “Eastern” Europe (n = 132, 2.2%) was largely associated with migration-related travel (53%); among chronic infectious diseases, tuberculosis was frequently diagnosed (n = 20). Travelers VFRs contributed the largest group of malaria patients (46%), but also had the lowest documented rate of pre-travel health advice in this subset (20%). Overall, 44% of nonimmigrant ill travelers did not receive pre-travel advice.
Conclusion
There is a burden of infectious diseases in travelers attending European health centers that is potentially preventable through comprehensive pre-travel advice, chemoprophylaxis, and vaccination. Targeted interventions for high-risk groups such as travelers VFRs and migration-associated travelers are of particular importance.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | WA Public Health > Preventive Medicine > WA 108 Preventive health services. Preventive medicine. Travel Medicine. WA Public Health > Preventive Medicine > WA 110 Prevention and control of communicable diseases. Transmission of infectious diseases WC Communicable Diseases > Tropical and Parasitic Diseases > WC 680 Tropical diseases (General) |
| Faculty: Department: | Clinical Sciences & International Health > Clinical Sciences Department Clinical Sciences & International Health > International Public Health Department |
| Digital Object Identifer (DOI): | https://doi.org/10.1111/jtm.12120 |
| Depositing User: | Lynn Roberts-Maloney |
| Date Deposited: | 08 Jun 2015 13:18 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Feb 2018 13:10 |
| URI: | https://archive.lstmed.ac.uk/id/eprint/5198 |
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