COVID-19 impact on EuroTravNet infectious diseases sentinel surveillance in Europe.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a sharp decline of post-travel patient encounters at the European sentinel surveillance network (EuroTravNet) of travellers' health. We report on the impact of COVID-19 on travel-related infectious diseases as recorded by EuroTravNet clinics.

Methods: Travelers who presented between January 1, 2019 and September 30, 2021 were included.

Travel-related infections presenting in Europe: A 20-year analysis of EuroTravNet surveillance data.

Background: Disease epidemiology of (re-)emerging infectious diseases is changing rapidly, rendering surveillance of travel-associated illness important.

Methods: We evaluated travel-related illness encountered at EuroTravNet clinics, the European surveillance sub-network of GeoSentinel, between March 1, 1998 and March 31, 2018.

Findings: 103,739 ill travellers were evaluated, including 11,239 (10.

Travel-associated infection presenting in Europe (2008-12): an analysis of EuroTravNet longitudinal, surveillance data, and evaluation of the effect of the pre-travel consultation.

Background: Travel is important in the acquisition and dissemination of infection. We aimed to assess European surveillance data for travel-related illness to profile imported infections, track trends, identify risk groups, and assess the usefulness of pre-travel advice.

Methods: We analysed travel-associated morbidity in ill travellers presenting at EuroTravNet sites during the 5-year period of 2008-12.

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.

Spectrum of illness in international migrants seen at GeoSentinel clinics in 1997-2009, part 2: migrants resettled internationally and evaluated for specific health concerns.

Background: Increasing international migration may challenge healthcare providers unfamiliar with acute and long latency infections and diseases common in this population. This study defines health conditions encountered in a large heterogenous group of migrants.

Methods: Migrants seen at GeoSentinel clinics for any reason, other than those seen at clinics only providing comprehensive protocol-based health screening soon after arrival, were included.

Spectrum of illness in international migrants seen at GeoSentinel clinics in 1997-2009, part 1: US-bound migrants evaluated by comprehensive protocol-based health assessment.

Background: Many nations are struggling to develop structured systems and guidelines to optimize the health of new arrivals, but there is currently no international consensus about the best approach.

Methods: Data on 7792 migrants who crossed international borders for the purpose of resettlement and underwent a protocol-based health assessment were collected from the GeoSentinel Surveillance network. Demographic and health characteristics of a subgroup of these migrants seen at 2 US-based GeoSentinel clinics for protocol-based health assessments are described.

Travel-associated sexually transmitted infections: an observational cross-sectional study of the GeoSentinel surveillance database.

Background: Travel is thought to be a risk factor for the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but no multicentre analyses have been done. We aimed to describe the range of diseases and the demographic and geographical factors associated with the acquisition of travel-related STIs through analysis of the data gathered by GeoSentinel travel medicine clinics worldwide.

Methods: We gathered data from ill travellers visiting GeoSentinel clinics worldwide between June 1, 1996, and Nov 30, 2010, and analysed them to identify STIs in three clinical settings: after travel, during travel, or immigration travel.

Travel and migration associated infectious diseases morbidity in Europe, 2008.

Background: Europeans represent the majority of international travellers and clinicians encountering returned patients have an essential role in recognizing, and communicating travel-associated public health risks.

Methods: To investigate the morbidity of travel associated infectious diseases in European travellers, we analysed diagnoses with demographic, clinical and travel-related predictors of disease, in 6957 ill returned travellers who presented in 2008 to EuroTravNet centres with a presumed travel associated condition.

Results: Gastro-intestinal (GI) diseases accounted for 33% of illnesses, followed by febrile systemic illnesses (20%), dermatological conditions (12%) and respiratory illnesses (8%).

Characteristics of schistosomiasis in travelers reported to the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network 1997-2008.

Among ill returned travelers to Schistosoma-endemic areas reported to the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network over a decade 410 schistosomiasis diagnoses were identified: 102 Schistosoma mansoni, 88 S. haematobium, 7 S. japonicum, and 213 Schistosoma unknown human species.

Gastrointestinal infection among international travelers globally.

Background: Data on relative rates of acquisition of gastrointestinal infections by travelers are incomplete. The objective of this study was to analyze infections associated with oral ingestion of pathogens in international travelers in relation to place of exposure.

Methods: We performed a multicenter, retrospective observational analysis of 6,086 travelers ill enough with any gastrointestinal infection to seek medical care at a GeoSentinel clinic after completion of travel during 2000 to 2005.

Seasonality, annual trends, and characteristics of dengue among ill returned travelers, 1997-2006.

We examined seasonality and annual trends for dengue cases among 522 returned travelers reported to the international GeoSentinel Surveillance Network. Dengue cases showed region-specific peaks for Southeast Asia (June, September), South Central Asia (October), South America (March), and the Caribbean (August, October). Travel-related dengue exhibited annual oscillations with several epidemics occurring during the study period.

Dermatologic conditions of the ill returned traveler: an analysis from the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.

Background: Skin disorders are common in travelers. Knowledge of the relative frequency of post-travel-related skin disorders, including their geographic and demographic risk factors, will allow for effective pre-travel counseling, as well as improved post-travel diagnosis and therapeutic intervention.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study using anonymous patient demographic, clinical, and travel-related data from the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network clinics from January 1997 through February 2006.

Fever in returned travelers: results from the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.

Background: Fever is a marker of potentially serious illness in returned travelers. Information about causes of fever, organized by geographic area and traveler characteristics, can facilitate timely, appropriate treatment and preventive measures.

Methods: Using a large, multicenter database, we assessed how frequently fever is cited as a chief reason for seeking medical care among ill returned travelers.

Illness in travelers visiting friends and relatives: a review of the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.

Travelers returning to their country of origin to visit friends and relatives (VFRs) have increased risk of travel-related health problems. We examined GeoSentinel data to compare travel characteristics and illnesses acquired by 3 groups of travelers to low-income countries: VFRs who had originally been immigrants (immigrant VFRs), VFRs who had not originally been immigrants (traveler VFRs), and tourist travelers. Immigrant VFRs were predominantly male, had a higher mean age, and disproportionately required treatment as inpatients.

Yellow fever 17D vaccine safety and immunogenicity in the elderly.

The incidence of serious and severe multisystem adverse events (AEs) following yellow fever (YF) 17D vaccine is higher in persons of advanced age. One hypothesis for the occurrence of these AEs in the elderly is immunological senescence and a reduced ability to clear the vaccine virus infection. We determined age-specific rates of serious and nonserious AEs in two large clinical trials of two YF 17D vaccines from different manufacturers.

Spectrum of disease and relation to place of exposure among ill returned travelers.

Background: Approximately 8 percent of travelers to the developing world require medical care during or after travel. Current understanding of morbidity profiles among ill returned travelers is based on limited data from the 1980s.

Methods: Thirty GeoSentinel sites, which are specialized travel or tropical-medicine clinics on six continents, contributed clinician-based sentinel surveillance data for 17,353 ill returned travelers.

Yellow fever vaccine: an updated assessment of advanced age as a risk factor for serious adverse events.

Since 1996, the scientific community has become aware of 14 reports of yellow fever vaccine (YEL)-associated viscerotropic disease (YEL-AVD) cases and four reports of YEL-associated neurotropic disease (YEL-AND) worldwide, changing our understanding of the risks of the vaccine. Based on 722 adverse event reports after YEL submitted to the U.S.

Imported Plasmodium vivax malaria: demographic and clinical features in nonimmune travelers.

Background: Imported malaria is an important problem in nonendemic countries due to increasing travel to and immigration from malaria-endemic countries. Plasmodium vivax malaria is relatively common in travelers but there are few published data regarding the outcome of P. vivax malaria in this group.

Health communication during SARS.

During the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak, electronic media made it possible to disseminate prevention messages rapidly. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Travelers' Health Web site was frequently visited in the first half of 2003; more than 2.6 million visits were made to travel alerts, advisories, and other SARS-related documents.

Illness in returned travellers presenting at GeoSentinel sites in New Zealand.

Objective: To describe illnesses of returned travellers presenting at GeoSentinel sites in New Zealand.

Methods: Record data for all patients presenting for travel-related illnesses seen at two GeoSentinel sites, operating as commercial travel clinics, in Auckland and Hamilton, NZ, were extracted for the period November 1997 to December 2001.

Results: 205 patients were identified with 262 diagnoses.

Respiratory tract infections in travelers: a review of the GeoSentinel surveillance network.

Respiratory tract infections are common in travelers, and improving our knowledge of risk factors associated with specific types of respiratory infections should enable implementation of better preventive strategies. Data collected by the GeoSentinel surveillance network were analyzed, and the most significant predictors for developing specific categories of respiratory infections while abroad were age, sex, season of travel, trip duration, and reason for travel. In particular, influenza was associated with travel to the Northern Hemisphere during the period of December through February, travel involving visits to friends or relatives, and trip duration of >30 days.

Yellow fever vaccine. Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), 2002.

This report updates CDC's recommendations for using yellow fever vaccine (CDC. Yellow Fever Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices: MMWR 1990;39[No. RR-6]1-6).

Advanced age a risk factor for illness temporally associated with yellow fever vaccination.

In 1998, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was notified of severe illnesses and one death, temporally associated with yellow fever (YF) vaccination, in two elderly U.S. residents.