One billion travelers a year in the world, SOS health

Travel to distant and exotic destinations is increasingly within reach of air travel, and summer is the most popular season. But while globalization and borderless tourism represent a great opportunity, we must not overlook the health risks and potential contact with pathogens often little-known in Western countries. Every year, over 1.2 billion people travel worldwide, and it only takes 36 hours to circumnavigate the globe by plane: a time far shorter than the incubation period for most communicable diseases contracted in various countries around the world. The Italian National Institute of Health (ISS) is warning against this , recommending precautions before traveling and the necessary vaccinations.

Year after year, the ISS emphasizes, more and more people are undertaking international travel, even to developing countries that were once untouched destinations. However, the more than one billion travelers who travel the world every year are at significant risk of becoming ill and becoming a vehicle of infection for others once they return home. Each year, the ISS notes, approximately 18 million trips from Italy to foreign destinations, often to tropical destinations.

Every traveler, states the ISS, "should therefore be aware that protecting their own health also means protecting the health of others." On the one hand, the risk can be minimized through prophylaxis and vaccinations, taken before departure. On the other, prompt identification and treatment of an imported disease are essential to prevent it from spreading to others, potentially becoming a serious public health problem. Hence the ISS's advice. To reduce the risk of accidents, a pre-travel consultation with a travel medicine doctor or general practitioner is recommended 4-6 weeks before departure. Factors to consider include: pre-existing conditions, vaccination status, allergies, and current medical prescriptions. Depending on the destination, all risk factors must also be considered: food and water, often unpurified; environmental conditions to which the body is unaccustomed (altitude, drought, temperatures); the presence of parasites to which one may come into contact (from insects to poultry); and sexual behaviors that can increase the risk of transmitting infections. Vaccinations can be an effective preventive method for many diseases.

It's a good idea to check that you're up to date with all vaccinations required by the national vaccination program. Specifically, vaccinations against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTaP), polio (IPV), hepatitis B (HBV), Haemophilus influenzae b (Hib), measles, mumps, rubella, and varicella (MMRV) are mandatory in Italy. Furthermore, depending on the destination, specific vaccines or chemoprophylaxis may be recommended. The ISS reminds us that today, no country requires a vaccination certificate against smallpox and cholera. The only certificate required for international travel, limited to certain travelers and specific destinations, is the yellow fever vaccination certificate. Many countries require a valid international vaccination certificate from travelers arriving from or transiting through infected areas, while some require a certificate from all travelers entering, including those in transit (equatorial Africa and South America).

This last requirement goes beyond what is stated in the International Health Regulations, however, vaccination is strongly recommended for travel outside urban areas to countries within yellow fever endemic zones. Regarding ACWY meningitis, some countries require an international vaccination certificate for all travelers entering, including those in transit (Saudi Arabia and Mecca). Regarding malaria, specific prophylaxis is recommended for each country located in endemic zones.