Media release: Travel-acquired infections and illnesses in Canadians: surveillance report

This study, then, provides information that until now we have had to infer from travel-acquired illness in other groups. The study uncovered a number of surprises for travelling Canadians and Canadian immigrants. For example, travel to visit friends and relatives carries a particularly high risk of illness. Serious diseases, like malaria, malaria or enteric fever, are in fact common imported illnesses. And diseases significant to public health, like hepatitis B and tuberculosis, are common as well among returning travellers. “In order to maximize opportunities for prevention of these types of potentially serious infections,” Boggild says, “travellers should seek pre-travel medical consultation at least 6 weeks in advance of travel to the tropics. Family doctors and other health care workers can encourage their patients to do so as well.” Andrea K. Boggild, MSc, MD, DTMH, FRCPC, is the Clinical Director of the Tropical Disease Unit and a Staff Physician in the Division of Infectious Diseases, University Health Network – Toronto General Hospital; Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto; and the Parasitology Lead with Laboratory Services, Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario. Jennifer Geduld, MHSc, BSc, is Manager, Epidemiology with the Travel and Migration Health Division, Infectious Disease Prevention and Control Branch, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. Michael Libman, MD, is Director of the Centre for Tropical Diseases, ...
Source: Open Medicine Blog - - Category: Medical Publishers Authors: Source Type: blogs