International travel is a major risk factor for developing a range of infections, according to a study in a region of England. Scientists found illness after travel abroad contributes substantially to the burden of infection in North East England. There has also been no reduction in the proportion of travel-associated infections in non-pandemic years since 2013.
Laboratory reports of common notifiable enteric infections were linked to exposure data for cases reported between January 2013 and December 2022. Results were published in the journal Epidemiology and Infection . Pathogens behind illness In total, 9,358 lab-confirmed cases of gastrointestinal illness resulting from infection with Cryptosporidium, Giardia, hepatitis A, Salmonella, Shigella, Shiga toxin-producing E.
coli (STEC), Vibrio, and Yersinia were reported in North East England residents. Routine exposure questionnaires were completed for 7,909 cases. About 35 percent of cases reported international travel during their incubation period, although travel-associated cases were significantly reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between 2013 and 2019, half of Shigella and non-typhoidal Salmonella infections and a third of Giardia infections were reported following travel. The figure was under 30 percent for Cryptosporidium and above 20 percent for STEC infections. In England, all lab-confirmed cases of notifiable enteric infections are reported to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) from National Health Service (.