Xaviour J Walker1, Elizabeth D Barnett2, Mary E Wilson3, William B Macleod4, Emily S Jentes5, Adolf W Karchmer6,7, Davidson H Hamer4,8, Lin H Chen7,9. 1. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA. 2. Section of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. 3. Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 4. Center for Global Health and Development, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA. 5. Division of Global Migration and Quarantine, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. 6. Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. 7. Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. 8. Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA. 9. Department of Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Japanese encephalitis (JE) and rabies are serious vaccine preventable diseases which are an important consideration for travelers to Asia. METHODS: Five Boston-area travel clinics collected demographic data, trip information, and interventions for travelers to Asia seen at pre-travel consultations from March 1, 2008, through July 31, 2010. We evaluated travelers for proportion vaccinated for JE and rabies, those traveling for >1 month, and whether travelers had adequate time to complete the JE series (clinic visit ≥28 days before departure) and rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (clinic visit ≥21 days before departure). RESULTS: Among 15,440 travelers from five Boston Area Travel Medicine Network travel clinics, Asia was the most common destination region, visited by 5,582 (36%) of travelers. Among these travelers, 4,810 (86%) planned to travel to only one Asian subregion. Median trip duration was 17 days, with more than 20% traveling for >1 month. The most common destinations were South (41%), Southeast (26%), and East (23%) Asia. Of those traveling to South, Southeast, or East Asia, over one-third with trips >1 month had insufficient time to complete a series for either JE or rabies vaccine. Overall, only 10% of travelers were vaccinated (past and pre-travel visit) for either JE or rabies, with lowest percentages among travelers visiting friends and relatives. Most travelers received advice on vector precautions (96%) and rabies prevention, which included avoiding animal contact, washing wounds, and obtaining appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis (88%). CONCLUSION: Given the insufficient time for completion and relatively low vaccination rates, greater awareness of earlier pre-travel consultations, at least 4-6 weeks before travel, and accurate risk assessment for travelers are important. Effective counseling about vector avoidance, rabies, and animal bite prevention and management remains critical.
BACKGROUND:Japanese encephalitis (JE) and rabies are serious vaccine preventable diseases which are an important consideration for travelers to Asia. METHODS: Five Boston-area travel clinics collected demographic data, trip information, and interventions for travelers to Asia seen at pre-travel consultations from March 1, 2008, through July 31, 2010. We evaluated travelers for proportion vaccinated for JE and rabies, those traveling for >1 month, and whether travelers had adequate time to complete the JE series (clinic visit ≥28 days before departure) and rabies pre-exposure prophylaxis (clinic visit ≥21 days before departure). RESULTS: Among 15,440 travelers from five Boston Area Travel Medicine Network travel clinics, Asia was the most common destination region, visited by 5,582 (36%) of travelers. Among these travelers, 4,810 (86%) planned to travel to only one Asian subregion. Median trip duration was 17 days, with more than 20% traveling for >1 month. The most common destinations were South (41%), Southeast (26%), and East (23%) Asia. Of those traveling to South, Southeast, or East Asia, over one-third with trips >1 month had insufficient time to complete a series for either JE or rabies vaccine. Overall, only 10% of travelers were vaccinated (past and pre-travel visit) for either JE or rabies, with lowest percentages among travelers visiting friends and relatives. Most travelers received advice on vector precautions (96%) and rabies prevention, which included avoiding animal contact, washing wounds, and obtaining appropriate post-exposure prophylaxis (88%). CONCLUSION: Given the insufficient time for completion and relatively low vaccination rates, greater awareness of earlier pre-travel consultations, at least 4-6 weeks before travel, and accurate risk assessment for travelers are important. Effective counseling about vector avoidance, rabies, and animal bite prevention and management remains critical.
Authors: Michael P Muehlenbein; Kristina M Angelo; Patricia Schlagenhauf; Lin Chen; Martin P Grobusch; Philippe Gautret; Alexandre Duvignaud; François Chappuis; Kevin C Kain; Emmanuel Bottieau; Loïc Epelboin; Marc Shaw; Noreen Hynes; Davidson H Hamer Journal: J Travel Med Date: 2020-11-09 Impact factor: 8.490
Authors: Philippe Gautret; Kristina M Angelo; Hilmir Asgeirsson; David G Lalloo; Marc Shaw; Eli Schwartz; Michael Libman; Kevin C Kain; Watcharapong Piyaphanee; Holly Murphy; Karin Leder; Jean Vincelette; Mogens Jensenius; Jesse Waggoner; Daniel Leung; Sarah Borwein; Lucille Blumberg; Patricia Schlagenhauf; Elizabeth D Barnett; Davidson H Hamer Journal: PLoS Negl Trop Dis Date: 2018-11-13
Authors: Johnnie A Yates; Sowmya R Rao; Allison Taylor Walker; Douglas H Esposito; Mark Sotir; Regina C LaRocque; Edward T Ryan Journal: J Travel Med Date: 2019-09-02 Impact factor: 8.490
Authors: Davidson H Hamer; William B MacLeod; Lin H Chen; Natasha S Hochberg; Laura Kogelman; Adolf W Karchmer; Winnie W Ooi; Christine Benoit; Mary E Wilson; Emily S Jentes; Elizabeth D Barnett Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Innov Qual Outcomes Date: 2017-04-28