Schistosomiasis in Scottish travellers: public health importance of laboratory testing and the need for enhanced surveillance.

Background: Imported schistosomiasis is of significant public health importance and is likely to be underestimated since infection is often asymptomatic. We describe data from travellers residing in Scotland which includes a subset of group travellers from one of the largest Health Boards in Scotland.

Methods: Clotted bloods were obtained during the period 2001-15 from a total of 8163 Scottish travellers.

Imported Plasmodium vivax malaria ex Pakistan.

Background: According to WHO, 1.5 million cases of malaria are reported annually in Pakistan. Malaria distribution in Pakistan is heterogeneous, and some areas, including Punjab, are considered at low risk for malaria.

Travel-related infection in European travelers, EuroTravNet 2011.

Background: Limited data exist on infectious diseases imported to various locations in Europe, particularly after travel within the continent.

Methods: To investigate travel-related disease relevant to Europe that is potentially preventable through pre-travel intervention, we analyzed the EuroTravNet database of 5,965 ill travelers reported by 16 centers in "Western" Europe in 2011.

Results: There were 54 cases of vaccine-preventable disease, mostly hepatitis A (n = 16), typhoid fever (n = 11), and measles (n = 8); 6 cases (including 3 measles cases) were associated with travel within "Western" Europe.