Pre-Travel Health Care of Immigrants Returning Home to Visit Friends and Relatives

Immigrants returning home to visit friends and relatives (VFR travelers) are at higher risk of travel-associated illness than other international travelers. We evaluated 3,707 VFR and 17,507 non-VFR travelers seen for pre-travel consultation in Global TravEpiNet during 2009–2011; all were traveling to resource-poor destinations. VFR travelers more commonly visited urban destinations than non-VFR travelers (42% versus 30%, P < 0.0001); 54% of VFR travelers were female, and 18% of VFR travelers were under 6 years old. VFR travelers sought health advice closer to their departure than non-VFR travelers (median days before departure was 17 versus 26, P < 0.0001). In multivariable analysis, being a VFR traveler was an independent predictor of declining a recommended vaccine. Missed opportunities for vaccination could be addressed by improving the timing of pre-travel health care and increasing the acceptance of vaccines. Making pre-travel health care available in primary care settings may be one step to this goal

Schistosomiasis among Recreational Users of Upper Nile River, Uganda, 2007

After recreational exposure to river water in Uganda, 12 (17%) of 69 persons had evidence of schistosome infection. Eighteen percent self-medicated with praziquantel prophylaxis immediately after exposure, which was not appropriate. Travelers to schistosomiasis-endemic areas should consult a travel medicine physician

Acute Muscular Sarcocystosis: An International Investigation Among Ill Travelers Returning From Tioman Island, Malaysia, 2011-2012

A large outbreak of acute muscular sarcocystosis (AMS) among international tourists who visited Tioman Island, Malaysia, is described. Clinicians evaluating travelers returning ill from Malaysia with myalgia, with or without fever, should consider AMS in their differential diagnosi

Essential Travel Medicine

This 1st edition of Essential Travel Medicine provides an excellent concise introduction to the specialty of Travel Medicine. This core text will enable health care practitioners particularly those new to the clinical practice of Travel Medicine, to gain a fundamental understanding of the diverse and complex issues which can potentially affect the health of the many millions of people who undertake international travel.\ud \ud Jane N Zuckerman is joined by Gary W Brunette from CDC and Peter A Leggat from Australia as Editors. Leading international specialists in their fields have contributed authoritative chapters reflecting current knowledge to facilitate best clinical practice in the different aspects of travel medicine.\ud \ud The aim of Essential Travel Medicine is to provide a comprehensive guide to Travel Medicine as well as a fundamental knowledge base to support international undergraduate and postgraduate specialty training programmes in the discipline of Travel Medicine.\ud \ud The 1st edition of Essential Travel Medicine offers an indispensable resource of essential information for travel health practitioners, infectious disease specialists, occupational health specialists, public health specialists, family practitioners, pharmacists and other allied health professionals. This core text will appeal similarly to those training in Travel Medicine and to those who want a concise introduction to the subject or an ideal revision companion

Travel medicine resources

The practice of travel medicine should be supported by the provision of easily accessible information to enable up up-to to-date knowledge in the different aspects of travel medicine. Continuing advances in modern technology in the 21st century support this with comprehensive travel medicine information being available through websites and online resources which that can be updated and accessed almost simultaneously whenever and wherever you are in the world. The diverse range of information also includes hardback textbooks and journals as well as in addition to guidance documents which that are also increasingly available through electronic medium. There are is an ever- growing number of travel medicine national and international professional organsizations which that support the practice of travel medicine and continuing education in the field