title: Regional variation in travel-related illness acquired in Africa, March 1997-May 2011.
abstract: To understand geographic variation in travel-related illness acquired in distinct African regions, we used the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network database to analyze records for 16,893 ill travelers returning from Africa over a 14-year period. Travelers to northern Africa most commonly reported gastrointestinal illnesses and dog bites. Febrile illnesses were more common in travelers returning from sub-Saharan countries. Eleven travelers died, 9 of malaria; these deaths occurred mainly among male business travelers to sub-Saharan Africa. The profile of illness varied substantially by region: malaria predominated in travelers returning from Central and Western Africa; schistosomiasis, strongyloidiasis, and dengue from Eastern and Western Africa; and loaisis from Central Africa. There were few reports of vaccine-preventable infections, HIV infection, and tuberculosis. Geographic profiling of illness acquired during travel to Africa guides targeted pretravel advice, expedites diagnosis in ill returning travelers, and may influence destination choices in tourism.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendelson
authors.forename: Pauline V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Sonnenburg
authors.forename: Jakob P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Cramer
authors.forename: Louis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Loutan
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Kain
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parola
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hagmann
authors.forename: Effrossyni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gkrania-Klotsas
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sotir
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schlagenhauf
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014195:Travel
keywords: Africa; HIV; bacteria; dengue; diarrhea; endemic; enteric; falciparum; helminth; malaria; malariae; ovale; parasites; plasmodium; podcast; rabies; respiratory; schistosomiasis; strongyloidiasis; travel; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria; vaccine; vector; vector-borne infections; viruses; vivax; zoonoses