Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease RSS feed: Articles in Press. The journal will publish original papers and invited reviews covering all aspects of travel medicine and infectious disease. These will include the epidemiology and surveillance of travel-related infectious disease, vaccine-preventable disease, illness in returning travellers, aviation medicine including psychological aspects, environmental hazards of travel, practical clinical issues for travellers, tropical medicine and tropical skin disease and general aspects of travel medicine and infectious disease. The journal will also bring together knowledge from different specialties involved in the research and clinical practice of travel medicine and infectious disease. The journal will publish topical leading academic reviews and opinion papers, original articles and case reports as well as a correspondence section.http://www.travelmedicinejournal.com//inpress?rss=yesElsevier Inc.en © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease1477-89392010-03-08 © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. healthpermissions@elsevier.comhttp://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS1477893910000037/abstract?rss=yesSummary: A review of the recent foundation by The Australasian College of Tropical Medicine of the Sub-Faculty of Expedition Medicine is presented. Information is given on aims, professional grades of membership, and the various activities of the Sub-Faculty, including publications and scientific meetings.Professional organisation profile: A Sub-Faculty of expedition medicine for Australasia - Corrected ProofPeter A. Leggat, Marc TM Shaw10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.01.002Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2010)2010-03-08Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease2010-03-08COMMENTARYhttp://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS147789391000027X/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Background: Imported malaria has been an increasing problem in Italy in the last three decades of the 1900s, representing the main risk for travelers visiting tropical and sub-tropical countries where malaria is endemic. Even though the total number of imported cases has been declining since 2000, malaria still represents the most frequent notifiable imported disease in Italy. The present study analyzes all the malaria cases reported in Italy in 2000–2006 in order to assess the trend of incidence over the time and reviewing the risk factors for travelers visiting malaria endemic countries.Methods: All 2000–2006 case report forms were analyzed. The incidence of malaria in Italian travelers was calculated by continent and by countries most visited, using data provided by the Ministry of Transportation.Results: Out of the 5219 malaria cases reported and confirmed in the study period five were autochthonous and 5214 imported, 1518 of which occurred in Italian citizen and 3696 in foreigners. Between 2000 and 2006 imported malaria cases fell from 977 to 630 respectively, with a total reduction of about 36%. Most of the cases were contracted in Africa (93%) and Plasmodium falciparum was the etiological agent in 83% of the cases, with an annual average fatality rate of about 0.5%. The average of the crude incidence rate (CIR) among Italians was calculated by continent for both global cases (gCIR) and for P. falciparum cases (pfCIR) resulting of 1.2/1000 and 0.9 for Africa, 0.08/1000 and 0.02 for Asia, 0.03/1000 and 0.003 for Central and South America, respectively. The gCIR by continent slightly but decreased constantly over the study period.Discussion: The different factors which may influence the risk of contracting malaria for travelers visiting endemic countries and the strategy to reduce completely the number of fatal cases were considered and discussed.Incidence of malaria and risk factors in Italian travelers to malaria endemic countries - Corrected ProofRoberto Romi, Daniela Boccolini, Stefania D'Amato, Corrado Cenci, Mario Peragallo, Fortunato D'Ancona, Maria Grazia Pompa, Giancarlo Majori10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.02.001Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2010)2010-03-08Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease2010-03-08REVIEWhttp://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS1477893910000281/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Background: Investigations related to tuberculosis (TB) cases on airline flights have received increased attention in recent years. In Canada, reports of air travel by individuals with active TB are sent to the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for public health risk assessment and contact follow-up. A descriptive analysis was conducted to examine reporting patterns over time.Method: Reports of air travel by individuals with active TB received by PHAC between January 2006 and December 2008 were reviewed. Descriptive analyses were performed on variables related to reporting patterns, characteristics and actions taken.Results: The number of reports increased each year with 18, 35 and 51 reports received in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. Of the 104 total cases, most were male (63%) and born outside of Canada (87%). Ninety-eight cases (97%) met the criteria for infectiousness and a contact investigation was initiated for 136 flights.Conclusions: Reports of air travel by individuals with active TB have been increasing annually in Canada in recent years. Outcomes of the subsequent contact investigations, including passenger follow-up results and evidence of TB transmission, is necessary to further evaluate the effectiveness of the Canadian guidelines.Air travel by individuals with active tuberculosis: Reporting patterns and epidemiologic characteristics, Canada 2006–2008 - Corrected ProofDerek Scholten, Andrea Saunders, Kathryn Dawson, Thomas Wong, Edward Ellis10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.02.002Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2010)2010-03-08Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease2010-03-08http://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS1477893910000049/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Among all travel-acquired illnesses, malaria carries the greatest burden not only considering the number of imported cases but also the potential of a fatal outcome. The increased number of imported malaria cases in developed countries in the last decades has been attributed to the increasing number of travel to tropical destinations in combination with the enormous influx of immigrants. At present, immigrants visiting friends and relatives (VFRs) constitute the most significant group of travellers for malaria importation in developed countries, with sub-Saharan Africa destinations carrying the highest risk. VFRs typically demonstrate travel and behavioural patterns which render them at high risk for acquisition of this largely preventable infection. Pre-travel services are rarely sought by VFRs, whereas misconceptions that they possess life-long immunity against malaria make them less likely to receive or adhere to antimalarial chemoprophylaxis recommendations. There is an urgent need to increase awareness about malaria of this group of travellers.Malaria and travellers visiting friends and relatives - Corrected ProofAndroula Pavli, Helena C. Maltezou10.1016/j.tmaid.2010.01.003Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2010)2010-02-22Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease2010-02-22http://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS1477893909001598/abstract?rss=yesSummary: In 2007, the World Health Organization's (“WHO”) revised International Health Regulations (2005) (“IHR” or “Regulations”) entered into force across the globe. The IHR contain a range of binding and advisory provisions for reporting, health measures, capacity-building and further procedures to address the risks of international disease spread in international travel, transport and trade. While the prior versions of the Regulations were limited to a short list of infectious diseases (which did not include tuberculosis), the revised IHR cover virtually all serious internationally transmissible disease risks, whether biological/infectious, chemical or radionuclear in origin, that meet certain criteria. These revised Regulations are now generally applicable to transnational tuberculosis (“TB”) transmission, including through air travel. In light of the great numbers of persons undertaking international travel, the worldwide geographical coverage of the IHR, and the emergence of extremely drug resistant TB (“XDR TB”), these Regulations are an important element in addressing these (and other) serious international public health risks. This article describes the relevant provisions in the IHR, and their applicability in this context.The international health regulations (2005), tuberculosis and air travel - Corrected ProofBruce J. Plotkin, Maxwell C. Hardiman10.1016/j.tmaid.2009.11.003Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2009)2009-12-28Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease2009-12-28INVITED SUBMISSIONhttp://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS1477893909001264/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Background: The potential for transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis during air travel has garnered considerable attention in the media and among public health authorities due to high-profile cases of international travelers with infectious tuberculosis (TB).Methods: During 2007 and 2008, state and local health officials were asked to locate and conduct diagnostic follow-up for airline passengers considered contacts of three travelers, two with multidrug-resistant (MDR) TB and one considered highly contagious, who undertook air travel while infectious with TB disease.Results: Public health departments in 21 states located and evaluated 79 (60%) of the 131 passenger contacts identified; 52 (40%) were lost to follow-up. Eight (10%) contacts had a history of TB disease or latent TB infection and were not retested. Sixteen (23%) of 71 contacts tested had positive TB test results suggesting latent TB infection, 15 of whom were from countries reporting estimated TB disease rates of greater than 200 cases/100,000 persons.Conclusions: Passenger contacts’ positive test results may represent prior TB infection acquired in their countries of residence or may be a result of new TB infection resulting from exposure during air travel.Three air travel-related contact investigations associated with infectious tuberculosis, 2007–2008 - Corrected ProofKrista Kornylo-Duong, Curi Kim, Elaine H. Cramer, Ann M. Buff, Daniel Rodriguez-Howell, June Doyle, Julie Higashi, Carolyn S. Fruthaler, Carrie L. Robertson, Karen J. Marienau10.1016/j.tmaid.2009.08.001Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2009)2009-10-05Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease2009-10-05http://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS1477893909000507/abstract?rss=yesSummary: Although tuberculosis (TB) is not highly transmissible, there is a risk of transmission of infection when close contact occurs between a person with active pulmonary TB and other passengers for prolonged periods during air travel. The World Health Organization first published Tuberculosis and air travel: guidelines for prevention and control in 1998, in response to several incidents involving TB in air travellers, with a second edition in 2006. A further revision was undertaken to address issues arising from the emergence of extensively resistant TB (XDR-TB), the occurrence of several international incidents involving TB and air travel, and the entry into force of the revised International Health Regulations (IHR) in 2007. This article describes the process followed in preparing the third edition, the special issues considered and the conclusions reached, with recommendations for travellers, physicians, public health authorities, and airline companies. New material includes: (i) additional guidance on the assessment of infectiousness, and on procedures, roles and responsibilities involved in the prevention of transmission of infection on board and for dealing with incidents; (ii) information on basic provisions of the IHR and measures relevant to incidents involving TB among air travellers; and (iii) a proposed procedure for carrying out contact investigations.Guidance from WHO on the prevention and control of TB during air travel - Corrected ProofLindsay Martinez, Kathrin Thomas, José Figueroa10.1016/j.tmaid.2009.02.005Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2009)2009-03-31Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease2009-03-31http://www.travelmedicinejournal.com/article/PIIS1477893908000100/abstract?rss=yesThe Publisher regrets that this article is an accidental duplication of an article that has already been published in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, doi:10.1016/j.tmaid.2008.01.006. The duplicate article has therefore been withdrawn.WITHDRAWN: CDC Health Information for International Travel 2008, M. Arguin Paul, E. Kozarsky Phyllis, Reed Christie. Elsevier Mosby, Atlanta, USA (2008) (xiv)+627pp, GBP19, Paperback, ISBN: 978-0-323-04885-9 - Corrected ProofPeter A. Leggat10.1016/j.tmaid.2008.01.006Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease (2008)2008-03-10Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease2008-03-10