tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
J Travel Med. 2012 Jan;19(1):4-8. doi: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2011.00579.x. Epub 2011 Dec 8.
Latitudinal Patterns of Travel Among Returned Travelers With Influenza: Results From the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, 1997-2007.
Boggild AK, Castelli F, Gautret P, Torresi J, von Sonnenburg F, Barnett ED, Greenaway CA, Lim PL, Schwartz E, Wilder-Smith A, Wilson ME; for the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.
Source
Tropical Disease Unit, UHN-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, H?pital Nord, AP-HM, Marseille, France Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Munich, Germany Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA Division of Infectious Diseases, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore Center for Geographic Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel Sakler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel Institute of Public Health; University of Heidelberg, Germany Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA See Appendix for members of the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.
Abstract
Background. Influenza is a common vaccine-preventable disease among international travelers, but few data exist to guide use of reciprocal hemisphere or out-of-season vaccines. Methods. We analyzed records of ill-returned travelers in the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network to determine latitudinal travel patterns in those who acquired influenza abroad. Results. Among 37,542 ill-returned travelers analyzed, 59 were diagnosed with influenza A and 11 with influenza B. Half of travelers from temperate regions to the tropics departed outside influenza season. Twelve travelers crossed hemispheres from one temperate region to another, five during influenza season. Ten of 12 travelers (83%) with influenza who crossed hemispheres were managed as inpatients. Proportionate morbidity estimates for influenza A acquisition were highest for travel to the East-Southeast Asian influenza circulation network with 6.13 (95% CI 4.5-8.2) cases per 1000 ill-returned travelers, a sevenfold increased proportionate morbidity compared to travel outside the network. Conclusions. Alternate hemisphere and out-of-season influenza vaccine availability may benefit a small proportion of travelers. Proportionate morbidity estimates by region of travel can inform pre-travel consultation and emphasize the ease of acquisition of infections such as influenza during travel.
? 2011 International Society of Travel Medicine.
PMID:
22221805
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22221805
Latitudinal Patterns of Travel Among Returned Travelers With Influenza: Results From the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network, 1997-2007.
Boggild AK, Castelli F, Gautret P, Torresi J, von Sonnenburg F, Barnett ED, Greenaway CA, Lim PL, Schwartz E, Wilder-Smith A, Wilson ME; for the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.
Source
Tropical Disease Unit, UHN-Toronto General Hospital, Toronto, Canada Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, H?pital Nord, AP-HM, Marseille, France Department of Infectious Diseases, Austin Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia Department of Medicine, Austin Health, University of Melbourne, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Munich, Germany Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA Division of Infectious Diseases, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Canada Department of Infectious Diseases, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, Singapore Center for Geographic Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel Sakler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel Institute of Public Health; University of Heidelberg, Germany Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA See Appendix for members of the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.
Abstract
Background. Influenza is a common vaccine-preventable disease among international travelers, but few data exist to guide use of reciprocal hemisphere or out-of-season vaccines. Methods. We analyzed records of ill-returned travelers in the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network to determine latitudinal travel patterns in those who acquired influenza abroad. Results. Among 37,542 ill-returned travelers analyzed, 59 were diagnosed with influenza A and 11 with influenza B. Half of travelers from temperate regions to the tropics departed outside influenza season. Twelve travelers crossed hemispheres from one temperate region to another, five during influenza season. Ten of 12 travelers (83%) with influenza who crossed hemispheres were managed as inpatients. Proportionate morbidity estimates for influenza A acquisition were highest for travel to the East-Southeast Asian influenza circulation network with 6.13 (95% CI 4.5-8.2) cases per 1000 ill-returned travelers, a sevenfold increased proportionate morbidity compared to travel outside the network. Conclusions. Alternate hemisphere and out-of-season influenza vaccine availability may benefit a small proportion of travelers. Proportionate morbidity estimates by region of travel can inform pre-travel consultation and emphasize the ease of acquisition of infections such as influenza during travel.
? 2011 International Society of Travel Medicine.
PMID:
22221805
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22221805