Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease

Running head: TRAVEL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 1
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease
Westmead Institute for Medical Research

TRAVEL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 2
International travelling has increased significantly in the past few decades, attributed to
globalization. More than 3 billion individuals travel across borders. Many people travel for
vacations, business, and visiting relatives and friends (Aw et al., 2014). Additionally, many
uncounted travellers' cross borders to evade prosecutions or in search of better opportunities.
Travellers are likely to be exposed to numerous risks and pathogens, at least 20%-60% of
travellers report of having health complications during their travel (Aw et al., 2014). During
international travel, individuals are likely to seek medical attention; some may require
emergency medical evacuations, while others may die (Morens & Fauci, 2013).
Globally the increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a threat not only to
contemporary medicine but also a significant challenge to the practice of travel medicine. The
rise in international travel contributes to the spread of antimicrobial resistance (Frost, Van-
Boeckel, Pires, Craig & Laxminarayan, 2019). Resistant microorganisms and infections have
increased mortality and morbidity. In addition, they place a significant burden on health care
systems than other diseases brought about by susceptible microorganisms.
Travellers visiting regions with a high prevalence of AMR are likely to be exposed to
resistant bacteria and are likely to carry the bacteria's back to their origin. The AMR bacteria are
located in different regions across the globe however the difference between areas is attributed to
various factors including the level of antibiotic consumption, availability of sanitation and clean
water, vaccination coverage and presence of quality medical care and access to high-quality
medical supplies (Frost et al., 2019).
Human migration favors the development of infectious diseases through numerous
channels. During travel, individuals transfer their genetic makeup and accumulated immunologic
characteristics. Travellers can carry the microorganisms in or on their bodies and are likely to

TRAVEL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE 3
transfer disease vectors, for instance, lice. Technological applications in the economic activities,
methods of disease treatment, traditions, and behavioral patterns may contribute to their risk for
contamination in a new environment and the ability to introduce diseases into a new area.
Recently various outbreaks have indicated contemporary epidemics, and large-scale
infectious outbreaks occur and spread significantly. (Tseng & Chan, 2015). Air transportation is
a significant vehicle for the fast dissemination and spread of infectious diseases with several
reported epidemics of major airborne diseases aboard commercial flights, for instance, severe
acute respiratory syndrome, smallpox, tuberculosis, influence, and measles (Connor & Riddle,
2013). More than 3.2 billion travellers and 50 million metric tons of cargo were transported
through air from 41,000 airports and 50,000 routes across the globe (Ericsson & Riddle, 2018).
With the increased number of travellers through the air around the world, the threat of infectious
disease transmission is a significant concern for its implication on the spread of contagious
diseases.
The healthcare providers identify travellers who are at significant risk of the travellers
including the usual tourist routes, long-term travellers as well as foreign borne individuals going
back home from a different destination as they are more likely than others to acquire different
types of diseases (Morens & Fauci, 2013). Each traveller undergoes a comprehensive risk
assessment that is critical in precisely assess traveller, itinerary, and destination-specific risk and
recommend the most appropriate risk management intervention to prevent adverse health
outcomes and enhance health during travel (Nelson et al., 2013). However, even with increased
surveillance, treatment, and vaccination, incidences of infections are still recorded in different
regions across the globe due to antibiotic resistance.