24 August 2007

HPA publishes ‘Foreign travel-associated illness, England, Wales and Northern Ireland – 2007’

The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has published the third edition of their report on travel-associated illness, Foreign travel-associated illness, England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 2007 report.

The report gives an overview of the global epidemiology of the burden of travel-associated infections together with a summary of travel-associated illness in England, Wales and Northern Ireland for the years 2004 and 2005.

Gastro-intestinal infections remained the most commonly reported travel-related infection in 2005. Cases of enteric fever (typhoid and paratyphoid) and malaria increased in the period reviewed, and for both of these diseases, travellers who were visiting friends and relatives were at highest risk.

The report calls for improved surveillance of imported illness. This will aid an understanding of illness acquired abroad, help to identify risk groups, and inform the advice to travellers.

Links

Health Protection Agency. Foreign travel-associated illness, England, Wales and Northern Ireland: 2007 report. London, Health Protection Agency, 2007.

http://www.hpa.org.uk/publications/PublicationDisplay.asp?Publ

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