BACKGROUND: International travel poses a risk of destination-specific illness and may contribute to the global spread of infectious diseases. Despite this, little is known about the health characteristics and pretravel healthcare of US international travelers, particularly those at higher risk of travel-associated illness. METHODS: We formed a national consortium (Global TravEpiNet) of 18 US clinics registered to administer yellow fever vaccination. We collected data regarding demographic and health characteristics, destinations, purpose of travel, and pretravel healthcare from 13235 international travelers who sought pretravel consultation at these sites from January 2009 through January 2011. RESULTS: The destinations and itineraries of Global TravEpiNet travelers differed from those of the overall population of US international travelers. The majority of Global TravEpiNet travelers were visiting low- or lower-middle-income countries, and Africa was the most frequently visited region. Seventy-five percent of travelers were visiting malaria-endemic countries, and 38% were visiting countries endemic for yellow fever. Fifty-nine percent of travelers reported ≥1 medical condition. Atovaquone/proguanil was the most commonly prescribed antimalarial drug, and most travelers received an antibiotic for self-treatment of travelers' diarrhea. Hepatitis A and typhoid were the most frequently administered vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: Data from Global TravEpiNet provide insight into the characteristics and pretravel healthcare of US international travelers who are at increased risk of travel-associated illness due to itinerary, purpose of travel, or existing medical conditions. Improved understanding of this epidemiologically significant population may help target risk-reduction strategies and interventions to limit the spread of infections related to global travel.
BACKGROUND: International travel poses a risk of destination-specific illness and may contribute to the global spread of infectious diseases. Despite this, little is known about the health characteristics and pretravel healthcare of US international travelers, particularly those at higher risk of travel-associated illness. METHODS: We formed a national consortium (Global TravEpiNet) of 18 US clinics registered to administer yellow fever vaccination. We collected data regarding demographic and health characteristics, destinations, purpose of travel, and pretravel healthcare from 13235 international travelers who sought pretravel consultation at these sites from January 2009 through January 2011. RESULTS: The destinations and itineraries of Global TravEpiNet travelers differed from those of the overall population of US international travelers. The majority of Global TravEpiNet travelers were visiting low- or lower-middle-income countries, and Africa was the most frequently visited region. Seventy-five percent of travelers were visiting malaria-endemic countries, and 38% were visiting countries endemic for yellow fever. Fifty-nine percent of travelers reported ≥1 medical condition. Atovaquone/proguanil was the most commonly prescribed antimalarial drug, and most travelers received an antibiotic for self-treatment of travelers' diarrhea. Hepatitis A and typhoid were the most frequently administered vaccines. CONCLUSIONS: Data from Global TravEpiNet provide insight into the characteristics and pretravel healthcare of US international travelers who are at increased risk of travel-associated illness due to itinerary, purpose of travel, or existing medical conditions. Improved understanding of this epidemiologically significant population may help target risk-reduction strategies and interventions to limit the spread of infections related to global travel.
Authors: Samantha B Dolan; Emily S Jentes; Mark J Sotir; Pauline Han; Jesse D Blanton; Sowmya R Rao; Regina C LaRocque; Edward T Ryan; George M Abraham; Salvador Alvarez; Vernon Ansdell; Johnnie A Yates; Elisha H Atkins; John Cahill; Holly K Birich; Dagmar Vitek; Bradley A Connor; Roberta Dismukes; Phyllis Kozarsky; Rone Dosunmu; Jeffrey A Goad; Stefan Hagmann; DeVon Hale; Noreen A Hynes; Frederique Jacquerioz; Susan McLellan; Mark Knouse; Jennifer Lee; Regina C LaRocque; Edward T Ryan; Alawode Oladele; Hanna Demeke; Roger Pasinski; Amy E Wheeler; Sowmya R Rao; Jessica Rosen; Brian S Schwartz; William Stauffer; Patricia Walker; Joseph Vinetz Journal: Vector Borne Zoonotic Dis Date: 2013-12-20 Impact factor: 2.133
Authors: Stefan H F Hagmann; Pauline V Han; William M Stauffer; Andy O Miller; Bradley A Connor; DeVon C Hale; Christina M Coyle; John D Cahill; Cinzia Marano; Douglas H Esposito; Phyllis E Kozarsky Journal: Fam Pract Date: 2014-09-26 Impact factor: 2.267
Authors: Emily P Hyle; Sowmya R Rao; Emily S Jentes; Amy Parker Fiebelkorn; Stefan H F Hagmann; Allison Taylor Walker; Rochelle P Walensky; Edward T Ryan; Regina C LaRocque Journal: Ann Intern Med Date: 2017-05-16 Impact factor: 25.391
Authors: Emily P Hyle; Naomi F Fields; Amy Parker Fiebelkorn; Allison Taylor Walker; Paul Gastañaduy; Sowmya R Rao; Edward T Ryan; Regina C LaRocque; Rochelle P Walensky Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2019-07-02 Impact factor: 9.079
Authors: Rosa M Lopez-Gigosos; Marina Segura; Eloisa Mariscal-Lopez; Mario Gutierrez-Bedmar; Alberto Mariscal Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2020-03 Impact factor: 2.345