Bordetella pertussis infections in travelers: data from the GeoSentinel global network.
- Barbosa F Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- Barnett ED Department of Pediatrics, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
- Gautret P Aix Marseille Université, URMITE, UM63, CNRS 7278, IRD 198, INSERM 1095, Marseille, France and IHU Méditerranée Infection, APHM Public Hospitals of Marseille, Marseille, France.
- Schlagenhauf P Biostatistics and Prevention, University of Zürich Centre for Travel Medicine, WHO Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health, Institute for Epidemiology Biostatistics and Prevention, Zürich, Switzerland.
- van Genderen PJ Institute for Tropical Diseases, Havenziekenhuis, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
- Grobusch MP Division of Internal Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Center of Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Connor BA Weill Cornell Medical College and the New York Center for Travel and Tropical Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Hamer DH Center for Global Health and Development and Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
- Hochberg NS Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
- 2017-03-30
Published in:
- Journal of travel medicine. - 2017
Whooping cough
pertussis
sentinel surveillance
travel
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Bordetella pertussis
Child
Child, Preschool
Databases, Factual
Female
Global Health
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Retrospective Studies
Sentinel Surveillance
Travel Medicine
Whooping Cough
Young Adult
English
Background
Pertussis is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable respiratory infection that is endemic worldwide. There are limited data regarding the occurrence of pertussis in travelers. The objective of this study is to identify travel-related pertussis cases reported to the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.
Methods
This is a descriptive, retrospective analysis of GeoSentinel records from 25 travel/tropical medicine clinics in 16 countries. Frequencies of demographic and travel-related characteristics and symptoms of 74 cases of pertussis in travelers and new immigrants from 1999 to 2015 were analysed.
Results
There were 74 probable and confirmed cases of pertussis in the GeoSentinel database; median age was 44 years, and 38 (51%) patients were female. Tourism was the most common reason for travel (41; 55%). Country of exposure was determined in 66 cases with travelers returning from India and China constituting the highest number of cases (10 cases each; 15% each). Seventy of 74 (95%) patients had respiratory symptoms, while fatigue and fever were reported by 21 (28%) and 20 (27%), respectively. Immunization status against pertussis was unknown. Most cases were reported after 2005 (69; 93%).
Conclusions
Our study describes 74 cases of pertussis acquired during travel and reported to the GeoSentinel Network. Pertussis should be considered in returned travelers who present with respiratory symptoms. Surveillance and detection of imported cases are important to prevent onward transmission in the community. The pre-travel consultation provides an opportunity to verify immunization status and provide routine vaccinations such as pertussis.
Pertussis is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable respiratory infection that is endemic worldwide. There are limited data regarding the occurrence of pertussis in travelers. The objective of this study is to identify travel-related pertussis cases reported to the GeoSentinel Surveillance Network.
Methods
This is a descriptive, retrospective analysis of GeoSentinel records from 25 travel/tropical medicine clinics in 16 countries. Frequencies of demographic and travel-related characteristics and symptoms of 74 cases of pertussis in travelers and new immigrants from 1999 to 2015 were analysed.
Results
There were 74 probable and confirmed cases of pertussis in the GeoSentinel database; median age was 44 years, and 38 (51%) patients were female. Tourism was the most common reason for travel (41; 55%). Country of exposure was determined in 66 cases with travelers returning from India and China constituting the highest number of cases (10 cases each; 15% each). Seventy of 74 (95%) patients had respiratory symptoms, while fatigue and fever were reported by 21 (28%) and 20 (27%), respectively. Immunization status against pertussis was unknown. Most cases were reported after 2005 (69; 93%).
Conclusions
Our study describes 74 cases of pertussis acquired during travel and reported to the GeoSentinel Network. Pertussis should be considered in returned travelers who present with respiratory symptoms. Surveillance and detection of imported cases are important to prevent onward transmission in the community. The pre-travel consultation provides an opportunity to verify immunization status and provide routine vaccinations such as pertussis.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- bronze
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1093/jtm/taw094
- PMID 28355615
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/47522
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