Vaccine preventable diseases in returned international travelers: Results from the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network
Andrea K. Boggilda b✉, Francesco Castellic, Philippe Gautretd, Joseph Torresie f, Frank von Sonnenburgg, Elizabeth D. Barnetth, Christina A. Greenawayi, Poh‐Lian Limj, Eli Schwartzk l, Annelies Wilder‐Smithj m, Mary Elizabeth Wilsonn
- aTropical Disease Unit, UHN-Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, North Wing, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada. andrea.boggild@utoronto.ca
- bTropical Disease Unit, UHN-Toronto General Hospital, 200 Elizabeth Street, North Wing, 13th Floor, Room 1350, Toronto, ON, M5G 2C4, Canada
- cDept. of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
- dDept. of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Hopital Nord, AP-HM, 13015 Marseille, France
- eDept. of Infectious Diseases, Austin Hospital, 145 Studley Road, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia
- fDept. of Infectious Diseases, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- gDept of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Georgenstr. 5, 80799 Munich, Germany
- hMaxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, 670 Albany Street, Room 625, Boston University, Boston, MA 02118, United States
- i
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Abstract
Vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) threaten international travelers, but little is known about their epidemiology in this group. We analyzed records of 37,542 ill returned travelers entered into the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database. Among 580 (1.5%) with VPDs, common diagnoses included enteric fever (n=276), acute viral hepatitis (n=148), and influenza (n=70). Factors associated with S. typhi included VFR travel (p<0.016) to South Central Asia (p<0.001). Business travel was associated with influenza (p<0.001), and longer travel with hepatitis A virus (p=0.02). 29% of those with VPDs had pre-travel consultations. At least 55% of those with VPDs were managed as inpatients, compared to 9.5% of those with non-VPDs. Three deaths occurred; one each due to pneumococcal meningitis, S. typhi, and rabies. VPDs are significant contributors to morbidity and potential mortality in travelers. High rates of hospitalization make them an attractive target for pre-travel intervention.
TL;DRVaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) threaten international travelers, but little is known about their epidemiology in this group, and high rates of hospitalization make them an attractive target for pre-travel intervention. (Semantic Scholar)