Traveling Internationally to Visit Friends and Relatives. The importance of visiting a travel clini

In 2009 49% of more than the 30 million plan trips from the US oversees were made by individuals to visit friends and relatives. They make up almost half of all visits to disease endemic areas and have the largest proportion of health problems of all travelers. They often times stay longer than other travelers which increases their risks.

Typhoid Fever is 7 times more common in those visiting friends and relatives than tourist travelers. This is in part is due to the believe that they are already immune.

35% of malaria cases world wide have been reported by the CDC to occur in those visiting friends and relatives. In US Civilians 63% of those who were infected with malaria in 2009 were from individuals visiting friends and relatives. Often times there is lack of use of preventative medications. 38% in those visiting friends and relatives used preventive medications where as 75%of tourists used malaria preventative medications. Those that do use preventative medications often times do not take them correctly.

HIV, sexually transmitted infections, and Hepatitis B also occur more often. Perception by travelers of being lower risk, less use of condoms are some reasons for higher risks of these diseases.

Tuberculosis is another concern. Partially in part due to often travel is to areas were TB is prevalent.

Often times those traveling internationally to visit friends and relatives are ethnic travelers who visit friends and family from their original country and may be three or four generations from the migrant, but still have both social and cultural ties to their country. Surprisingly these travelers are a risk group when they travel to visit friends and family. One reason is the health believes of the traveler as many believe that will not suffer from infections such as malaria because, they consider themselves immune. Then they do not seek advise on disease prevention. New immigrants and recent refugees may lack support in seeking health care. They don not see the risks associated with travel, lack access or confidence in health care providers, language barriers, and understanding of the US health care system. They may have concerns over their immigration status and unaware of their rights to health care. They may not be up to date on immunizations based on current guidelines.

Visiting a travel clinic can help address these concerns through education, proper prescriptions, and immunizations.