Longitudinal study based on a safety registry for malaria patients treated with artenimol-piperaquine in six European countries.

Background: European travellers to endemic countries are at risk of malaria and may be affected by a different range of co-morbidities than natives of endemic regions. The safety profile, especially cardiac issues, of artenimol (previously dihydroartemisinin)-piperaquine (APQ) Eurartesim during treatment of uncomplicated imported falciparum malaria is not adequately described due to the lack of longitudinal studies in this population. The present study was conducted to partially fill this gap.

Use of face masks and other personal preventive measures by Hajj pilgrims and their impact on health problems during the Hajj.

Background: The Hajj is one of the world's largest pilgrimage and gathers millions of Muslims from different nationalities every year. Communicable diseases have been reported frequently, during and following the Hajj, and these have been linked to individual behavioural measures. This study aimed to measure the effect of personal preventive measures, such as face mask use, hand hygiene and others, adopted by pilgrims in reducing the acquisition of infectious diseases.

Efficacy and safety of a patch vaccine containing heat-labile toxin from Escherichia coli against travellers' diarrhoea: a phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial in travellers from Europe to Mexico and Guatemala.

Background: Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is a major cause of travellers' diarrhoea. We investigated the efficacy and safety of a skin-patch vaccine containing the pathogen's heat-labile toxin (LT) in a population of travellers to Mexico and Guatemala.

Methods: In this phase 3, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled field trial, healthy adults (aged 18-64 years) travelling from Germany or the UK to Mexico or Guatemala were assigned in a 1:1 ratio by a dynamic electronic randomisation system to receive transcutaneous immunisation with a patch containing 37.

Efficacy of a travelers' diarrhea vaccine system in travelers to India.

Background: A patch vaccine containing heat-labile toxin (LT) from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) has demonstrated to be beneficial in reducing the rate and severity of travelers' diarrhea in Latin America. To evaluate the efficacy of this transdermal vaccine system in an area with a different diarrheal pathogen profile, an additional phase 2 study was conducted in European travelers to India.

Methods: For this multicenter, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled field study 723 subjects were recruited; 603 (299 LT vaccine, 304 placebo) were included in the per-protocol-population (PPP).

The challenges of disease risk ascertainment using accessible data sources for numbers of travelers.

Background: Accessible travel has led to a rapid growth in international tourism, particularly to developing countries. With the increase, travel-associated morbidity and mortality has changed. Data on traveling populations are essential for policy makers to estimate infectious and noninfectious risks in travelers.

Travel trends and patterns of travel-associated morbidity.

Improved data collection methods have produced a clearer picture of travel-associated health risks and at-risk travelers. Examination of the causes of mortality and morbidity has led to a change in emphasis on ways of reducing morbidity. There are unanswered questions that relate to the contribution of medical comorbidities on travel-associated illness, how communication can enhance or influence behavior change, and the best strategies to influence the travelers at greatest risk.

Travel clinic consultation and risk assessment.

A significant number of travellers sustain travel-related injury or illness, despite receiving pretravel advice. This appears to be due to a combination of inconsistent guidance about risks and recommendations, and partial adherence. This article considers perceptions and attitudes to risk, factors affecting uptake of advice, and features of an effective consultation.

Cost risk benefit analysis to support chemoprophylaxis policy for travellers to malaria endemic countries.

Background: In a number of malaria endemic regions, tourists and travellers face a declining risk of travel associated malaria, in part due to successful malaria control. Many millions of visitors to these regions are recommended, via national and international policy, to use chemoprophylaxis which has a well recognized morbidity profile. To evaluate whether current malaria chemo-prophylactic policy for travellers is cost effective when adjusted for endemic transmission risk and duration of exposure.

Modeling the risk of malaria for travelers to areas with stable malaria transmission.

Background: Malaria is an important threat to travelers visiting endemic regions. The risk of acquiring malaria is complex and a number of factors including transmission intensity, duration of exposure, season of the year and use of chemoprophylaxis have to be taken into account estimating risk.

Materials And Methods: A mathematical model was developed to estimate the risk of non-immune individual acquiring falciparum malaria when traveling to the Amazon region of Brazil.