Showing papers by "Patricia F. Walker published in 2012"
Harvard University1, Northwestern University2, Kaiser Permanente3, University of California, San Francisco4, Lehigh Valley Hospital5, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai Roosevelt6, Albert Einstein College of Medicine7, University of California, San Diego8, Cornell University9, University of Southern California10, Mayo Clinic11, HealthPartners12, Emory University13, University of Washington14, Johns Hopkins University15, Tulane University16, University of Utah17, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention18
TL;DR: Data from Global TravEpiNet provide insight into the characteristics and pretravel healthcare of US international travelers who are at increased risk of travel-associated illness due to itinerary, purpose of travel, or existing medical conditions.
Abstract: Background International travel poses a risk of destination-specific illness and may contribute to the global spread of infectious diseases. Despite this, little is known about the health characteristics and pretravel healthcare of US international travelers, particularly those at higher risk of travel-associated illness. Methods We formed a national consortium (Global TravEpiNet) of 18 US clinics registered to administer yellow fever vaccination. We collected data regarding demographic and health characteristics, destinations, purpose of travel, and pretravel healthcare from 13235 international travelers who sought pretravel consultation at these sites from January 2009 through January 2011. Results The destinations and itineraries of Global TravEpiNet travelers differed from those of the overall population of US international travelers. The majority of Global TravEpiNet travelers were visiting low- or lower-middle-income countries, and Africa was the most frequently visited region. Seventy-five percent of travelers were visiting malaria-endemic countries, and 38% were visiting countries endemic for yellow fever. Fifty-nine percent of travelers reported ≥1 medical condition. Atovaquone/proguanil was the most commonly prescribed antimalarial drug, and most travelers received an antibiotic for self-treatment of travelers' diarrhea. Hepatitis A and typhoid were the most frequently administered vaccines. Conclusions Data from Global TravEpiNet provide insight into the characteristics and pretravel healthcare of US international travelers who are at increased risk of travel-associated illness due to itinerary, purpose of travel, or existing medical conditions. Improved understanding of this epidemiologically significant population may help target risk-reduction strategies and interventions to limit the spread of infections related to global travel.
126 citations
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1, Emory University2, University of Minnesota3, University of Cambridge4, Boston University5, McGill University6, University of Ottawa7, Cornell University8, Tel Aviv University9, University of Geneva10, Mount Sinai St. Luke's and Mount Sinai Roosevelt11, University of Paris12, University of Toronto13, Johns Hopkins University14, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich15, Yeshiva University16, University of Alabama at Birmingham17, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine18, University of Washington19, University of Amsterdam20, Harvard University21, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile22, University of Cape Town23, University of Utah24
TL;DR: Patient characteristics and disease spectrum among foreign visitors to Haiti before and after the 2010 earthquake are described and the importance of providing destination- and disaster-specific pre-travel counseling and post-travel evaluation and medical management to persons traveling to or returning from a disaster location is highlighted.
Abstract: To describe patient characteristics and disease spectrum among foreign visitors to Haiti before and after the 2010 earthquake, we used GeoSentinel Global Surveillance Network data and compared 1 year post-earthquake versus 3 years pre-earthquake. Post-earthquake travelers were younger, predominantly from the United States, more frequently international assistance workers, and more often medically counseled before their trip than pre-earthquake travelers. Work-related stress and upper respiratory tract infections were more frequent post-earthquake; acute diarrhea, dengue, and Plasmodium falciparum malaria were important contributors of morbidity both pre- and post-earthquake. These data highlight the importance of providing destination- and disaster-specific pre-travel counseling and post-travel evaluation and medical management to persons traveling to or returning from a disaster location, and evaluations should include attention to the psychological wellbeing of these travelers. For travel to Haiti, focus should be on mosquito-borne illnesses (dengue and P. falciparum malaria) and travelers' diarrhea.
12 citations