Is innovation needed in how we present location-based travel | Figure 1

CDCtravel

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Is innovation needed in how we present location-based travel health recommendations?

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You and your patients might not always see eye to eye when talking travel. A recent analysis found that the types of place names used by travelers to describe travel itineraries during pretravel consultations were often different from the ones referenced in travel health recommendations. Incorporating geographic information systems (GIS) technology into clinical decision-support tools could make identifying travel health risks and recommendations easier and faster.

Read more in the Journal of Travel Medicine

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Malaria Outbreak in Brazil

A malaria outbreak has been reported in the town of Wenceslau Guimarães in Bahia State, Brazil. Antimalarial medication is now recommended for travelers to this area. CDC has received reports of an outbreak of P. vivax malaria in Wenceslau Guimarães. Bahia State is not a malaria-endemic area. However, in the town of Wenceslau Guimarães, there were 21 locally transmitted cases reported January 16–22. The Brazilian Ministry of Health and the public health authorities in Bahia State are continuing to monitor and respond to this outbreak. As Bahia State is not a malaria-endemic area, CDC has previously not recommended malaria prophylaxis. However, with this focal outbreak, CDC now recommends that travelers to the town of Wenceslau Guimarães in Bahia State take antimalarials to prevent malaria. Effective antimalarial options for P. vivax include atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, mefloquine, and in those without glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, primaquine. CDC will continue to monitor the malaria situation in Bahia State and will update these recommendations as needed.

Earthquake and Tsunami Advice for Travelers to Indonesia

Because of the recent earthquake and tsunami that struck Indonesia on September 28, travelers to the province of Central Sulawesi may experience serious health and safety risks, and medical care may not be available. CDC recommends that travelers avoid all nonessential travel to the area.

Travel Health Care

Patients might not know they need #pre-travel health care, but you can help them stay healthy while exploring the world (and after they get home). CDC Travelers’ Health offers up-to-date alerts, recommendations, and information to help you reduce illness and injury in international travelers. We’re new to Figure 1 — follow us for the latest travel medicine updates!

Trending Cases

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