Travel-Related Disease Conditions – 2014
Background: Maine Center
for Disease Control and Prevention (Maine CDC) investigated multiple cases of
travel-related illness in 2013. Cases of chikungunya, dengue fever, and malaria
have been reported to Maine CDC in persons who have recently traveled or have
moved to Maine from another country. Maine residents frequently travel outside
of the United States during school vacation weeks in February and April, often
to warmer climates, putting them at risk for vector- and food-borne diseases.
Recommendations: Many
travel-related illnesses can be prevented by vaccinations, good hand hygiene,
and knowledge of high-risk conditions in other countries. Maine CDC recommends
that clinicians counsel patients who plan to travel, on precautions they can
take to prevent travel-related illness. The federal CDC recommends vaccines
based on travel destination, available at www.cdc.gov/travel.
Clinicians are reminded to obtain recent travel history, especially travel
outside of the US, for symptomatic patients.
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Table
1: Regions for Increased Attention, Select Diseases
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Caribbean
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Latin America
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Africa
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Indian
Sub-Cont.
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SE Asia
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W Pacific
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Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne viral disease. In
December 2013, local transmission was found for the first time in the
Caribbean/ Americas. The best prevention is to avoid being bitten by infected
mosquitoes, including wearing repellant while indoors or out.
|
✓
|
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
|
|
Dengue Fever is a mosquito-borne viral
illness occurring in many tropical and subtropical countries world-wide. The best prevention for dengue is to avoid
being bitten by infected mosquitoes, including wearing repellant while
indoors or out.
|
✓
|
✓
|
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
|
Malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease,
preventable by taking medication before and during travel (chemoprophylaxis).
It occurs in more than 100 tropical and subtropical countries.
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*Haiti
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
✓
|
|
|
Hepatitis A is one of the most common vaccine-preventable
infections acquired during travel. Transmitted through the fecal-oral route
by ingesting contaminated food or water, and close personal contact, it is
best prevented by vaccination and good hand hygiene.
|
|
✓
|
✓
|
|
✓
|
|
|
Shigellosis is a bacterial infection of the
intestine transmitted through the fecal-oral route by ingesting contaminated
food or water, and close personal contact. Like other enteric diseases,
including salmonella and campylobacter, good hand hygiene is the best
prevention.
|
|
✓
|
✓
|
|
✓
|
|
All
suspected cases of travel-related illnesses that are notifiable conditions
should be reported to the Maine CDC at 1-800-821-5821. If patients present with
unusual symptoms, providers are encouraged to call Maine CDC for a
consultation. A list of notifiable conditions is available at www.maine.gov/idepi.
For
More Information: Please contact the Maine CDC by calling the disease
reporting and consultation line at 1-800-821-5821, e-mailing disease.reporting@maine.gov, or
visiting the Maine CDC website at www.maine.gov/idepi.
A list of travel medicine clinics in Maine can be found at www.maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc/infectious-disease/immunization/international-travel.shtml.
