Imported Infectious Disease and Purpose of Travel, Switzerland

摘要

We evaluated the epidemiologic factors of patientsseeking treatment for travel-associated illness fromJanuary 2004 through May 2005 at the University Hospitalof Zurich. When comparing persons whose purpose of trav-el was visiting friends and relatives (VFR travelers; n = 121)with tourists and other travelers (n = 217), VFR travelersshowed a distinct infectious disease and risk spectrum.VFR travelers were more likely to receive a diagnosis ofmalaria (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 2.9, 95% confidenceinterval [CI] 1.2–7.3) or viral hepatitis (OR = 3.1, 95% CI1.1–9) compared with other travelers but were less likely toseek pretravel advice (20% vs. 67%, p = 0.0001). However,proportionate rates of acute diarrhea were lower in VFR(173 vs. 364 per 1,000 ill returnees). Travel to sub-SaharanAfrica contributed most to malaria in VFR travelers. Incountries with large migrant populations, improved publichealth strategies are needed to reach VFR travelers