According to a new study done by Massachusetts General Hospital, many frequent international travelers are not aware of the potential health risks that they face. Each year, more than 30 million Americans travel to resource-limited areas of the world. This global traveling without a doubt contributes to the spread of contagious diseases such as influenza, the measles, and meningitis but also malaria, typhoid, dengue fever and hepatitis. Regardless of these potential diseases a recently conducted study by the Division of Infectious Disease at Mass. General Hospital found that 46 percent of people traveling to resource limited countries did not seek vaccinations prior to their departure. The research group polled approximately 1,200 internationally bound travelers departing from Logan Airport. The spread of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) from 2002-2003 and the swine-flu epidemic of 2009 are just two examples of international travel playing a role in the spread of infectious diseases. More recently, dengue fever, which is a tropical disease found mainly in Central America and Asia has been diagnosed in the southern United States and the Indian disease Chikungunya, which is a form of the flu, has been spread in Italy by Italian tourists. Dr. Edward Ryan of the Tropical and Geographic Medicine Center at MGH said these recent epidemics reiterate the fact that, “International travel is the primary way many infections traverse the world.” He also said that it was important for travelers to make sure that have received the appropriate vaccinations before traveling abroad, especially if they are visiting a poorer country.
Source:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-11/mgh-hot110310.php
Source:http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-11/mgh-hot110310.php
