Table 1.
Characteristics of studies including the number of international travellers acquiring a travel-related illness, January 1, 1976–December 31, 2016(n = 9)
| Study (Publication year) | Data year(s) | Study participant nationality |
Median age in years (range) |
Sex (%F) | Travel | Destination(s) region (%) |
Top 5 Destination Countries (%) |
Median travel duration, days (range) |
Total travellers (n) |
Travellers ill during or after travel, n (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volunteer/missionary/aid (15) reasons (%) |
Tanzania (5) | |||||||||
| Chen et al. (2016) | 2009–11 | United Statesa | 47 (19–83) |
59 | Tourism/Vacation (67) Business (18) Visiting friends and relatives (14) Educational/Research (4) Medical/dental care (<1) Other (2) |
N/A | India (12) South Africa (5) Kenya (4) Haiti (4) |
12 (3–65) | 628 | 400 (64) |
| Vilkman et al. (2016) | December 2008–February 2010 | Finland | 35 (27–54) |
62 | Vacation (84) Business (8) Other/multiple (8) |
South East Asia (23) East Africa (21) West Africa, Middle Africa (19) Southern Asia (15) Latin America/Caribbean (9) Southern Africa (6) Europe/North America (3) |
India (14) Thailand (13) The Gambia (11) Tanzania (10) Kenya (9) |
16 (IQR: 13–27) |
460 | 363 (79) |
| Stoney et al. (2016) | 2011 | United Statesb | 52 (18–88) |
59 | Tourism (71) Visiting friends and relatives (18) Business (8) Otherc (3) |
N/A | Mexico(br)Canada Dominican Republic The Bahamas Italy |
N/Ab | 841 | 48 (6) |
| Balaban et al. (2014) | September 2009–September 2010 | United States | 41 (25–63) |
62 | Epidemiology/technical assistance (66) Teaching/trainings (42) Attending professional meetings (37) Working in a laboratory (12) Working in a health care facility (12) |
Africa (50) Asia (23) Mexico/Central America (8) |
N/A | 18 (4–99) | 122 | 33 (27) |
| Dia et al. (2010) | January–December 2003 | France | 43.3 (19–79) | 52 | Tourism (77) Visiting friends and relatives (12) Business (7) Missionary (3) Study (1) |
Africa (100) | Senegal | 8 (3–92) | 358 | 313 (87) |
| Rack et al. (2006) | July 2003–June 2004 | Germany | 40.3 ± 13.5 | 51.7 | Tourism (100) | Asia (57) Africa (30) South America (13) |
N/A | 23.9 ± 10.3 | 658 | 282 (43) |
| Hill (2000) | June 1989–May 1991 | United States | 44.1 ± 17.5 | 56 | Vacation (74) Study or teaching (15) Missionary or service (6) Business (6) |
Indian subcontinent (21) Central/East Africa (20) South America (16) South East Asia (14) West Africa (10) Central America/Mexico (10) North Africa (6) East Asia (6) Caribbean (5) Southern Africa (5) Middle East (3) |
Kenya India Nepal Thailand Tanzania |
19 | 784 | 501 (64) |
| Steffen et al. (1987) | July 1981–June 1984 | German-speaking Switzerland | 39.9 ± 14.2 | 47 | Tourism (93) Business (1) Various (6) |
East Africa (33) Sri Lanka/Maldives (26) West Africa (19) South America (9) Far East (east of Burma) (7) Asia, various regions (4) Various/other regions (2) |
N/A | 18 ± 11 | 7,886 | 1,209 (15) |
| Steffen (1985) | N/A | German-speaking Switzerland | N/A | 41 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 21 | 10,555 | 7,906 (75) |
N/A, not available; IQR, Interquartile range; n = 458 (2 missing).
a
Among these travellers, 18% were born outside the United States.
b
Among these travellers, 26% were born outside of the United States.
c
Other includes volunteers/missionaries, health/medical treatment, research/study, or ‘other not mentioned’.