Pre-Travel Medical Preparation of Business and Occupational Travelers An Analysis of the Global TravEpiNet Consortium

Objectives: The aim of the study was to understand more about pre-travel preparations and itineraries of business and occupational travelers. Methods: De-identified data from 18 Global TravEpiNet clinics from January 2009 to December 2012were analyzed.Results: Of 23,534 travelers, 61 % were non-occupational and 39 % occupational. Business travelers were more likely to be men, had short times to departure and shorter trip durations, and commonly refused influenza, meningococcal, and hepatitis B vaccines. Most business travelers indicated that employers suggested the pre-travel health consultation, whereas non-occupational travelers sought consultations because of travel health concerns. Conclusions: Sub-groups of occupational travelers have characteristic profiles, with business travelers being particularly distinct. E travel cons travel, can I n 2012012 destinatio median o median s different exposure ules.3,4 I developin increases with greater differences in climate and culture between the country of origin and the destination country.6 Further, occupational travel may contribute to the importation of disease to the traveler’s home workplace and larger community; such importations often require costly workplace and public health responses. Many infec-tions associated with occupational travel can be prevented by simple preventative measures, such as vaccines, medications, and health advice. Pre-travel health consultations are an opportunity to assess and mitigate the risk of illness and injury for travelers. Such evaluations review destination-specific epidemiology of illness and injury, risk factors related to the itinerary and the traveler’s medical history, ity a cy pre occ ions con ions atio edi ssio are visi From the