Characteristics and morbidity patterns of last-minute travelers in Thailand.

Background: Last-minute travelers (LMTs) present significant challenges for travel health services and are considered vulnerable due to their lack of health preparation. However, there is a lack of data to support this assumption.

Methods: The proportion of LMTs was investigated through a cross-sectional study involving all Thai travelers who visited the Thai Travel Clinic before their departure abroad.

Epidemiologic trends and clinical outcomes of imported malaria in a tertiary care hospital, Bangkok, Thailand: A retrospective analysis (2013-2022).

Background: Despite a significant declined in malaria incidence in Thailand, the rising global travel has resulted in an increase of imported malaria cases, posing a threat to the goal of malaria elimination. This study aims to understand the epidemiological trends and clinical outcomes of imported malaria cases in Thailand.

Methods: Medical records of all imported malaria cases admitted from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2022 at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Thailand, were retrospectively examined.

Associations between clinical data, vaccination status, antibody responses, and post-COVID-19 symptoms in Thais infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta and Omicron variants: a 1-year follow-up study.

Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), led to a global pandemic from 2020. In Thailand, five waves of outbreaks were recorded, with the fourth and fifth waves driven by the Delta and Omicron variants, resulting in over 20,000 new confirmed cases daily at their peaks.

Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated the associations between clinical symptoms, vaccination status, antibody responses, and post-COVID-19 sequelae in COVID-19 patients.

Barriers and enablers to blood culture sampling in Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam: a Theoretical Domains Framework-based survey.

Objective: Blood culture (BC) sampling is recommended for all suspected sepsis patients prior to antibiotic administration. We examine barriers and enablers to BC sampling in three Southeast Asian countries.

Design: A Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF)-based survey, comprising a case scenario of a patient presenting with community-acquired sepsis and all 14 TDF domains of barriers/enablers to BC sampling.

Seroprevalence of dengue, Japanese encephalitis and Zika among long-term expatriates in Thailand.

Background: Travel to Southeast Asia increases the likelihood of acquiring mosquito-borne Flavivirus infections such as dengue (DENV), Japanese encephalitis (JEV) and Zika viruses (ZIKV). Expatriates are long-term travellers who have a higher risk of mosquito-borne illness at their destination country. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of DENV, JEV and ZIKV infections and the determinants contributing to seropositivity among expatriates living in Thailand.

Clinical antiviral efficacy of favipiravir in early COVID-19 (PLATCOV): an open-label, randomised, controlled, adaptive platform trial.

Unlabelled: In early symptomatic COVID-19 treatment, high dose oral favipiravir did not accelerate viral clearance.

Background: Favipiravir, an anti-influenza drug, has in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Clinical trial evidence to date is inconclusive.

Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study.

Background: Hypertension is a common and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death among the general population and travelers. Data on hypertension among travelers are very limited due to the scarcity of research reports in this specific population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension among adult travelers and the stability of blood pressure control during international trips using a mobile automated blood pressure device.

Clinical Antiviral Efficacy of Remdesivir in Coronavirus Disease 2019: An Open-Label, Randomized Controlled Adaptive Platform Trial (PLATCOV).

Background: Uncertainty over the therapeutic benefit of parenteral remdesivir in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has resulted in varying treatment guidelines.

Methods: In a multicenter open-label, controlled, adaptive, pharmacometric platform trial, low-risk adult patients with early symptomatic COVID-19 were randomized to 1 of 8 treatment arms including intravenous remdesivir (200 mg followed by 100 mg daily for 5 days) or no study drug. The primary outcome was the rate of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) clearance (estimated under a linear model fit to the daily log10 viral densities, days 0-7) in standardized duplicate oropharyngeal swab eluates, in a modified intention-to-treat population.

Pharmacometrics of high-dose ivermectin in early COVID-19 from an open label, randomized, controlled adaptive platform trial (PLATCOV).

Background: There is no generally accepted methodology for in vivo assessment of antiviral activity in SARS-CoV-2 infections. Ivermectin has been recommended widely as a treatment of COVID-19, but whether it has clinically significant antiviral activity in vivo is uncertain.

Methods: In a multicentre open label, randomized, controlled adaptive platform trial, adult patients with early symptomatic COVID-19 were randomized to one of six treatment arms including high-dose oral ivermectin (600 µg/kg daily for 7 days), the monoclonal antibodies casirivimab and imdevimab (600 mg/600 mg), and no study drug.

Dynamics of Different Classes and Subclasses of Antibody Responses to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Variants after Coronavirus Disease 2019 and CoronaVac Vaccination in Thailand.

The humoral immune response plays a key role in protecting the population from SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Patients who recovered from COVID-19 as well as fully vaccinated individuals have elevated levels of antibodies. The dynamic levels of the classes and subclasses of antibody responses to new variants that occur in different populations remain unclear.

Healthcare seeking during travel: an analysis by the GeoSentinel surveillance network of travel medicine providers.

Background: International travellers may seek care abroad to address health problems that arise during their trip or plan healthcare outside their country of residence as medical tourists.

Methods: Data were collected on travellers evaluated at GeoSentinel Network sites who reported healthcare during travel. Both unplanned and planned healthcare were analysed, including the reason and nature of healthcare sought, characteristics of the treatment provided and outcomes.

Temporal Trend of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Factors Influencing International Travellers.

The COVID-19 pandemic has seen disrupted international travel due to travel restrictions and public health measures aimed at containing the spread of the virus. With increasing evidence of the COVID-19 vaccines' ability to mitigate disease severity, reopening tourism is desirable to promote the recovery of the global economy. However, the COVID-19 vaccine and vaccination passport for international travellers remains an ongoing debate.

Cardiovascular Manifestation of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 Vaccine in Adolescents.

This study focuses on cardiovascular manifestation, particularly myocarditis and pericarditis events, after BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine injection in Thai adolescents. This prospective cohort study enrolled students aged 13-18 years from two schools, who received the second dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Data including demographics, symptoms, vital signs, ECG, echocardiography, and cardiac enzymes were collected at baseline, Day 3, Day 7, and Day 14 (optional) using case record forms.

Trend Analysis of Travel Medicine Topics Presented at an International Tropical Medicine Conference.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a rapid increase in international travel. Travel medicine is a branch of preventive medicine focusing on risk assessment pre-travel, during travel and post-travel with the aim of promoting health and preventing adverse health outcomes. Travel medicine specialists inform travelers about potential health risks and mitigate infectious disease risks such as travelers' diarrhea, yellow fever, and malaria.

False Positivity of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Patients with Acute Tropical Diseases in Thailand.

Serology remains a useful indirect method of diagnosing tropical diseases, especially in dengue infection. However, the current literature regarding cross-reactivity between SARS-CoV-2 and dengue serology is limited and revealed conflicting results. As a means to uncover relevant serological insight involving antibody classes against SARS-CoV-2 and cross-reactivity, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgA, IgM, and IgG ELISA, based on spike and nucleocapsid proteins, were selected for a fever-presenting tropical disease patient investigation.

Adherence and Health Problems in Thai Travellers Living with HIV.

It is important to focus on adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and health problems of travellers living with HIV (TLWHIV) during travel. This study was conducted to investigate factors related to adherence and health problems among TLWHIV. This multicentre, cross-sectional observational study was conducted among TLWHIV in university hospitals from August 2019 to July 2020.

Cross-platform mobile app development for disseminating public health information to travelers in Thailand: development and usability.

Background: The risk of disease is a key factor that travelers have identified when planning to travel abroad, as many people are concerned about getting sick. Mobile devices can be an effective means for travelers to access information regarding disease prevalence in their planned destinations, potentially reducing the risk of exposure.

Methods: We developed a mobile app, ThaiEpidemics, using cross-platform technology to provide information about disease prevalence and status for travelers to Thailand.

A Case Report of Secondary Syphilis Co-Infected with Measles: A Diagnostic Dilemma with Fever and Rash.

Fever and rash as manifestations of infection by microorganisms are collectively known as febrile exanthem. Since viruses are more frequently associated with fever and rash, these symptoms are thus impetuously termed viral exanthem. However, bacteria represent a frequently overlooked infectious etiology causing rash in humans.

Spread of a Novel Indian Ocean Lineage Carrying E1-K211E/E2-V264A of Chikungunya Virus East/Central/South African Genotype across the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Africa.

The Indian Ocean Lineage (IOL) of the chikungunya virus (CHIKV) East/Central/South African (ECSA) genotype, which originated in Kenya, spread to the Indian ocean and the Indian subcontinent, and then expanded through Southeast Asia in the previous decade. It carried an adaptive mutation E1-A226V, which enhances CHIKV replication in . However, the IOL CHIKV of the most recent outbreaks during 2016-2020 in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Maldives, Myanmar, Thailand, and Kenya lacked E1-A226V but carried E1-K211E and E2-V264A.