Tracking the Traveler Without a Passport: Perspective on Surveillance of Imported Disease

Autor: Koya C. Allen
Rok vydání: 2014
Předmět:
Zdroj: Journal of Travel Medicine
ISSN: 1708-8305
1195-1982
Popis: Since the turn of the century, we have experienced increases in a variety of disease threats including bioterrorist attacks, pandemic influenza, emergence of novel diseases, and re‐emergence of known pathogens. Although every disease scenario had specific criteria surrounding its spread, a common factor in nearly all included travel. It is not a new concept that travel is in itself a vector for disease transmission and in some respects one of the most important factors, given our increasingly global society. The mode of disease transmission, whether vector borne, such as dengue, or airborne, such as influenza, provides us with a clear picture of the necessary mitigation strategies for minimizing transmission; however, our prevention strategies have not advanced to keep in line with the role of travel in the rapid spread of diseases. Our borders have significant restrictions for the movement of people and goods, but not for the potential pathogens traveling with them. There is substantial lack of addressing the human role, or more specifically the traveler's role in disease spread. We tend to view the traveler as a victim of diseases present in endemic travel destinations when infection is acquired. We need to evolve our approach to travel health by recognizing the traveler as an important aspect of the disease transmission cycle. This would allow … Corresponding Author: Koya C. Allen, PhD, MSPH, Department of Biostatistics, Environmental Health & Epidemiology, College of Public Health, Kent State University, 750 Hilltop Dr., Lowry Hall, Kent, OH 44240, USA. E‐mail: kallen37{at}kent.edu; koya.c.allen.ctr{at}mail.mil
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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