title: Epidemiology of travel-associated infections in Oman 1999-2013: A retrospective analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The number of travelers in Oman has increased significantly in the last 2 decades with an increase in the expatriate population workforce leading to the emergence of infections related to travel. This paper aims to highlight the burden of travel-related infections in Oman.
  
  
  METHODS
  Our study is a descriptive record-based review and analysis of travel-associated diseases over a 14 year time period from 1999 to 2013. The data was sourced from the communicable disease surveillance system, and central public health laboratory results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 1999 to 2013 there were a combined total of 7022 cases of cholera, chikungunya, dengue, filariasis, leptospirosis, meningococcal infection, poliomyelitis, measles, schistosomiasis, viral hepatitis (A), typhoid and para-typhoid reported to and subsequently investigated by the Department of Communicable Diseases. Among these cases, 558 (7.9%) were attributed to travel. Fifty percent of these patients were admitted to hospitals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Travel-associated infections account for about 8% of notifiable infections in Oman and have low mortality rate. However, some travel-associated infections are considered as a threat to polio eradication and measles elimination programs. Furthermore, some can cause outbreaks that can overwhelm the healthcare system.
authors.affiliation: Directorate General for Disease Surveillance and Control, MoH, Oman. Electronic address: salabri@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Seif S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Al-Abri
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Diseases, MoH, Oman. Electronic address: doaahady2000@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Doaa M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Abdel-Hady
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Diseases, MoH, Oman. Electronic address: salem.mahrooqi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Salem S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Al Mahrooqi
authors.affiliation: Central Public Health Laboratory, MoH, Oman. Electronic address: drhananalkindi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hanan S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Al-Kindi
authors.affiliation: Central Public Health Laboratory, MoH, Oman. Electronic address: draljardani@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Amina K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Al-Jardani
authors.affiliation: Department of Communicable Diseases, MoH, Oman. Electronic address: dr.idris.oman@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Idris S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Al-Abaidani
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009850:Oman / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014195:Travel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Dengue; Imported infections; Measles; Oman; Typhoid