Basic Concept of

Modern Travel and

Transmittable Diseases

Submitted By
Fahmida Sultana
Roll:1224
 Travel acts as a potent force in disease
emergence and spread.

When they travel, humans carry their genetic

Travel makeup, immunologic sequelae of past
infections, cultural preferences, customs, and
influences spread of behavioral patterns.
Microbes, animals, and other biologic life also
disease accompany them.

Today's massive movement of humans and

materials sets the stage for mixing diverse
genetic pools at rates and in combinations
previously unknown.
 • As international travel is undertaken by a
Travellers large number of people for professional,
social and humanitarian purposes, they
are exposed to health
are exposed to a variety of health risks
risks in unfamiliar environments
with transmittable pathogens
causing diseases.
 • Food and water borne disease
Types of Modern • Vector borne disease
Travel and • Zoonotic disease
Transmittable • STD (Sexually Transmitted
Disease)
Diseases
• Air borne disease
• Soil transmitted disease
 Food and Water borne Disease

Transmitted by consumption of
contaminated food and drink. For
e.g. Cholera, Typhoid,
Diarrhea etc.
Vector borne
Disease
• Disease that results from an infection
transmitted to humans and other
animals by blood-feeding arthropods,
such as mosquitoes, ticks, and fleas.
Examples of vector-borne diseases
include Dengue fever, West Nile
Virus, Lyme disease, and malaria.
 Zoonotic Disease
Include many infections that can transmit to human
from animals, through-
• Bite
• contact with contaminated body fluid or feces
• consumption of food of animal origin specially
milk and milk product.
For e.g. Rabies, Plague, Anthrax etc.
STD (Sexually Transmitted
Disease)

• Pass through unsafe sexual

practices. For e.g.
HIV, gonorrhea, syphilis
Blood borne Disease • Transmitted by direct contact with
blood or other body fluid. For e.g.
Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV
etc.
Air borne Disease

• Can spread from person to person by

aerosol and droplets from nose and
mouth. For e.g. Influenza,
Tuberculosis, Covid-19 etc.
Soil transmitted Disease

Diseases caused by dormant forms(spore,

egg) of infectious agent, which can cause
infection in contact with broken skin. For
e.g. Ascariasis, Trichuriasis, Intestinal
hookworm disease etc.
 Diarrheal disease. Most travel-related diarrheal
diseases are acquired by consuming contaminated
water and food.
Common
travel-related Hepatitis A. is a highly contagious liver infection
caused by the hepatitis A virus. It is usually
illnesses acquired by consuming contaminated water and
food.
include:
Malaria. This is a condition caused by
Plasmodium sp. and acquired by the bite of an
infected mosquito.
Dengue fever. This is a viral illness
acquired through the bite of
a mosquito.

Parasitic infections. This group of

infectious diseases can be acquired by
eating contaminated food, swimming
or wading in infested water or walking
barefoot on the ground or beach sand.
Tuberculosis. Tuberculosis (TB)
is a condition caused by bacteria
that usually attacks the lungs. It
is transmitted person-to-person
after prolonged stays abroad.
Typhoid fever. This bacterial
illness spreads through
contaminated food and water or
close contact with an infected
person.

Yellow fever. This virus spreads

to humans by the bite of an
infected mosquito.
Leptospirosis. This bacterial infection is mostly
acquired by contact with contaminated fresh water
such as waterfalls, ponds and lakes. The urine of
infected animals contains the bacteria.

Chikungunya. This viral illness spreads to humans

through the bite of an infected mosquito.

Rabies. This deadly Lyssavirus spreads to people

from the saliva of infected animals, usually from an
animal bite.
 Persistent diarrhea

Skin conditions or rash

Common symptoms of Fever

travel-related diseases:
Respiratory infections

Chronic cough
Diagnosis of Travel-Associated Infections

Travel-related infectious diseases are often hard to diagnose and often require
evaluation by an infectious disease specialist.
Common screening tests may include:
• A complete blood count (CBC) blood test, which measures the number and
type of white blood cells in the blood
• A stool specimen to test pathogens (bacteria, viruses or other microorganisms
that can cause an illness)
• Blood specimens to test for malaria and other parasites
• Blood specimens for antibody tests for various germs, such as hepatitis viruses
Treatments

There are specific medicines to treat malaria, parasitic infections and travel-
associated diarrhea.
• Many travel-associated bacterial infections will require treatment with an
antibiotic.
• Respiratory infections caused by influenza may at times require antiviral
treatment.
• Vaccines are needed in case of Rabies.
Prevention

• Washing hands with soap

• Avoid consuming contaminated food and water
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked meat, fish etc.
• Taking required vaccines and medication to stay healthy throughout the trip.
This includes trips to Africa, Southeast Asia, South America, and Central
America.
References:
• Lederberg J, Shope RE, Oaks SC Jr, eds. Emerging infections: microbial threats to health in the
United States. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 1992.
• Wilson ME, Levins R, Spielman A. Disease in evolution: global changes and emergence of
infectious diseases. New York: New York Academy of Sciences, 1994;740.
• Wilson ME. A world guide to infections: diseases, distribution, diagnosis. New York: Oxford
University Press, 1991.
• Blake, A., & Sinclair, T. (2003). Tourism crisis management: US response to September 11.
Annals of Tourism Research, 30(4), 813-832.
• Cooper, M. (2005). Japanese tourism and the SARS epidemic of 2003.Journal of Travel &
Tourism Marketing, 19(2/3), 117-131.
THANK YOU