Glossary Terms

International Health Regulations (IHR)

Global regulations by the WHO to control, monitor, and respond to disease spread across borders while minimizing travel disruption. The IHR, established in 2005, mandates reporting of public health emergencies (e.g., Ebola outbreaks) and ensures measures like quarantine are proportionate, protecting global health during travel.

Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MDR-E)

A group of bacteria (e.g., E. coli, Klebsiella) resistant to multiple antibiotics, often carried by travelers from high-risk areas. The WHO notes that MDR-E carriage is higher in travelers to South Asia, with limited consequences but potential for spread, manageable through hygiene and infection control practices.

Syndromic Surveillance

A public health technique monitoring symptoms to detect travel-related disease outbreaks early, often in immigrant or refugee populations. The CDC uses syndromic surveillance in settings like reception centers to identify communicable diseases (e.g., tuberculosis) by tracking symptoms like cough or fever, enabling rapid response.

Pre-Travel Consultation

A medical consultation before travel to assess and mitigate risks of infectious diseases. The CDC recommends pre-travel consultations 4-6 weeks before departure, involving vaccinations (e.g., yellow fever), prophylactic medications (e.g., antimalarials), and education on risks like traveler’s diarrhea, especially for VFR travelers.

Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR) Travel

Travel undertaken to visit friends and relatives, often by immigrants, associated with a higher risk of infectious diseases. The CDC highlights that VFR travel increases exposure to diseases like malaria and enteric fever due to longer stays, closer contact with locals, and less pre-travel preparation, necessitating targeted health interventions.

Oropouche Fever

A viral disease caused by the Oropouche virus, transmitted by Culicoides midges, causing fever, headache, and joint pain, emerging in travel destinations like Latin America. The WHO notes its recent spread to non-endemic areas, with symptoms mimicking dengue, and no specific treatment, focusing on supportive care and vector control.

Latent Tuberculosis Infection (LTBI)

An inactive form of tuberculosis infection where the bacteria remain dormant but can reactivate later, prevalent among immigrants. The CDC states that LTBI affects up to 25 per 1,000 expatriates in Southeast Asia, often detected through screening in immigrant populations, treatable with preventive therapy like isoniazid to prevent active TB.

Traveler’s Diarrhea

An acute gastrointestinal illness caused by consuming contaminated food or water during travel, often due to bacteria like E. coli or Salmonella. The CDC reports that traveler’s diarrhea affects 30-70% of travelers to high-risk areas like South Asia, with symptoms including diarrhea, cramps, and nausea, treatable with hydration and antibiotics like azithromycin.

Visiting Friends and Relatives (VFR)

Travelers who visit friends and relatives, often immigrants returning to their country of origin, at higher risk for travel-related diseases. The CDC notes that VFR travelers, comprising up to 43% of international travelers, have a higher incidence of diseases like malaria and typhoid fever due to lower pre-travel health awareness and riskier behaviors.

Imported Case of Disease

A case of disease where an infected person, asymptomatic during travel, develops symptoms after arriving in a new country. The WHO defines an imported case as a critical concern in travel medicine, as seen with diseases like malaria or dengue, where travelers can introduce pathogens to non-endemic areas, potentially sparking outbreaks.