Year: 2014
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.
Source: Emerging infectious diseases
Authors: Marc Mendelson, Pauline V. Han, Peter Vincent, Frank von Sonnenburg, Jakob P. Cramer, Louis Loutan, Kevin C. Kain, Philippe Parola, Stefan Hagmann, Effrossyni Gkrania-Klotsas, Mark Sotir, Patricia Schlagenhauf, for the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network
Institutions: University of Cape Town, University of Zurich, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of Geneva, National Health Service, Bronx-Lebanon Hospital Center, University of Toronto, Yeshiva University, Groote Schuur Hospital, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Marseille, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Universität Hamburg
Language: English
Topic: Travel-related health issues
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2106561885