The recent polio (poliomyelitis) outbreaks in Central Asia (Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Russia) are reminders of how travel and migration can contribute to the re-emergence of a disease in a region previously declared free of infection.

In Tajikistan, for example, the country was declared polio free in 2002, but this year alone 239 children became paralyzed and 15 patients have died of the disease imported from India. The disturbing news is that since 2003 there have been 25 countries - originally declared polio free - that have been re-infected. (Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Cameroon, Burundi, Central African Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, and Guinea are some of the countries that have since taken steps to control the reappearance of polio).

Travellers who are un-vaccinated or under-vaccinated (did not complete the vaccination series) are at risk of infection where polio is still a threat.

Polio is well on its way to being eradicated around the world - since 1988 there has been a 99% decrease in the number of reported polio cases worldwide. Still, parts of Nigeria, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan remain polio endemic. This year, there is encouraging news from Nigeria where only 3 cases have been reported so far in 2010 compared to 312 cases in 2009 during the same time period.

Polio's continuing presence and re-emergence is largely due to a lack of funding and access to vaccines (the World Health Organization expects a $1.3 billion shortfall over the next 3 years in funding for polio research and vaccination programs). Systemic poverty - crowded living conditions, poor sanitation, high birth rates, malnutrition, little or no access to healthcare - and armed conflicts make it even harder to eradicate the disease, not to mention travel. Unvaccinated Hajj pilgrims, for example, were one of the sources for spreading polio around world; either having contracted the infection in Saudi Arabia and importing it back home or vice versa. However, by implementing strict travel health entry requirements (travellers who are not vaccinated or cannot provide proof of vaccination, get inoculated at the border), Saudi Arabia has been a key player in helping to eradicate the disease.

Polio is a highly contagious childhood disease, mainly affecting children under 5 years of age, although it has repercussions throughout a person's adult life. The poliovirus spreads from person to person through the fecal-oral route (ingestion of contaminated water and food) or through the respiratory system (infected air droplets and saliva). The incubation period (before symptoms show up) can be anywhere from 3 to 35 days, but a person is usually infectious between 7 days before and 10 days after the appearance of symptoms.

The difficulty with diagnosing polio is that some people do not exhibit symptoms or mild cases where patients suffer from headaches, fever, vomiting, neck and back pain, and extremities, including lethargy, are misdiagnosed for another illness. In severe cases (1 in 200 people), the virus attacks the central nervous system and patients see their muscles weakening, have difficulty controlling their movements, and become paralyzed.

The best prevention is to get vaccinated (routinely given as a series of childhood vaccinations, so you may already be protected). However, if you are travelling to endemic areas or where polio is still a risk, you may need additional protection (one booster as an adult). Other prevention methods include washing your hands, eating well cooked foods and drinking bottled water or purifying your water (tablets, purifier). Avoid crowded areas and places with poor sanitation.

See IAMAT's World Immunization Chart or our online Disease List where a polio booster is recommended.

For more information see the Global Polio Eradication Initiative website. GPEI is an initiative by national governments, the World Health Organization, Rotary International, UNICEF, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that funds and coordinates polio eradication programs worldwide.

Counting down the days to the start of the Soccer World Cup tournament? This year it's being held in South Africa from June 11 to July 11. It's one of the few events that brings out extreme emotions among fans, and like other world sporting events, this tournament will bring attention to the country's natural beauty, history, and cultures.

Travellers are asking us about our recommendations on how to stay healthy in South Africa. In case you need to see a doctor, you'll find that healthcare standards in the country vary between large urban centres and remote areas. High quality care is the norm in cities while in rural areas medical care tends to be basic.

IAMAT doctors are located in five World Cup host cities (Cape Town, Johannesburg, Bloemfontein, Port Elizabeth, and Pretoria) in addition to George, Knysna, Secunda, and Stellenbosch. Our doctors charge a set fee for the first consultation and will refer you to a specialist if needed.

As you're getting ready for your trip, you'll find advice and tips on health from many sources, often incomplete or unreliable. IAMAT relies on local medical contacts for its health recommendations, including guidelines set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Here's what we suggest for South Africa:

Routine Immunizations - Tetanus-Diphtheria, Poliomyelitis, Measles, Mumps, Rubella should be reviewed and updated if necessary. There is currently a measles outbreak in the provinces of Western Cape (Cape Town being the epicentre) and Eastern Cape (Libode region). We recently blogged about Measles and how to protect yourself.

Seasonal influenza – If you are 50 years or older or are immuno-suppressed ask your doctor or travel health clinic about getting anti-viral medication. Right now flu season is getting underway in the southern hemisphere.

If you are planning a trip to remote areas, planning extensive hiking or trekking, or going on a safari, we recommend getting vaccinated against Hepatitis A and Typhoid Fever.

Malaria medication is required if you are going to Northeastern provinces of Limpopo, the low altitude areas of Mpumalanga and KwaZulu-Natal as far south along the coast to the Tugela River, including Kruger National Park.

Risk of malaria occurs throughout the year and the incidence of P. falciparum malaria (the deadly form) is at 90 percent. Some anti-malaria drugs are resistant so based on your health status and type of trip, see our Malaria Suppressive Medication Guidelines (click on Disease Risks).

Schistosomiasis (also known as Bilharzia) is present in South Africa. This disease is transmitted by snails living in fresh water such as lakes, rivers, streams and ponds. Avoid swimming in fresh water even if you are extremely tempted! Read about the geographical distribution of this infection and the rules to prevent illness.

Keep in mind that HIV is endemic in South Africa. To prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, avoid unprotected sexual contact. If you are going to have sex with a stranger, use latex or polyurethane condoms consistently and correctly. Bring your own condoms from home. There are no HIV entry or long-term stay restrictions for South Africa. Check out The Global Database on HIV-Specific & Residence Restrictions for the latest information and a list of resources.

For your safety, it is recommended that you do not leave well travelled tourist areas without a trusted guide. Never walk alone after dark and avoid secluded areas. Theft is a concern for travellers. Consult your government's travel information website (ie. Foreign Affairs – Canada and US Department of State - International Travel) for their recommendations on safety and security.

For a complete list of potential health risks and how to prevent them, see our South Africa country profile.

Malaria infection continues to be the biggest health threat to travellers going to malaria endemic countries. As travellers, we are equipped with knowledge about prevention methods, the geographic distribution of malaria, and we also have access to prophylactic medication and bed net protection.

But what about people living in malaria areas? As we take a moment to consider World Malaria Day on April 25, there are mixed reviews regarding the state of malaria control and eradication initiati

This year marks the end of the 'Decade to Roll Back Malaria' declared by the United Nations. While progress has been made, this preventable disease continues to infect between 250 - 350 million people every year where 90 percent of deaths occur in Africa. Ray Chambers, the UN Secretary General Special Envoy for Malaria, estimates that as many as one million children died of malaria in 2009.

The toll of malaria on human lives is staggering. This preventable disease also affects national economies trying to pull out of systemic poverty and taxes already weakened health systems. Since malaria affects mostly children, school absenteeism is a very common and according to Freedom From Hunger, families spend up to 1/3 of their income on malaria prevention and treatment.

During the past 10 years there has been a concerted effort on the part of malaria endemic countries, development agencies, community-based organizations, foundations, and research institutions to fund research and implement public health policies focusing on malaria control and eradication. The Global Malaria Action Plan, coordinated by the UN-led Roll Back Malaria Partnership, aims to provide universal protection by the end of 2010 and decrease the number of fatalities to near zero by 2015.

In last week's Africa Update, the Partnership states that between 2004 and 2009 malaria-related funding increased by 10 times to almost $1.8 billion in 2009, the production of insecticide treated bed nets increased by five times to 150 million, and anti-malarial medications purchases increased by 30 times to 160 million. Despite this, the group says that global funding still falls short of the $6 billion needed every year to combat the disease.

Popular fund raising campaigns by groups like Malaria No More and Nothing But Nets have also greatly increased awareness about the disease. However, distributing more bed nets is only part of the solution. Malaria cannot be eradicated if the challenges on the ground persist.

Drug and Insecticide Resistance: In recent years, we've seen multi-drug resistance to malaria medications especially in Southeast Asia and Africa. Mosquitoes are also evolving to resist indoor residual spraying.

Bed Net Production and Distribution: Bed nets need to be re-treated periodically with insecticides for lasting protection. Continued and reliable access to new bed nets or insecticides treatment solutions for older bed nets poses a challenge, especially for people living in remote communities. Bed nets should also be tailored according to the type of housing such as collapsible and self standing ones. And ultimately, they need to be used correctly and consistently to be effective.

Improved Housing: A significant way to reduce bites of the night-time biting Anopheles mosquito is ensuring that people have adequate housing with screened windows and doors. Modern indoor plumbing and sanitation will also reduce mosquito breeding in open latrines and gutters.

Access to Healthcare: The need for improved health infrastructures, access to affordable and quality care, as well as training more doctors and nurses to properly diagnose malaria are key to treating the disease. Moreover, newer drugs used to treat malaria are often not available in developing countries because they are too expensive.

Counterfeit and Expired Medications: The proliferation of fake malaria medication (experts believe that as much as 40 percent of all drugs - not only anti-malarials - sold in Africa are counterfeit) and the continued use of outdated drugs are a setback to preventing and treating malaria.

Environmental Changes: Deforestation, agricultural production, irrigation, and infrastructure development such as building dams, roads and pipelines all contribute to increased mosquito breeding sites. Climate change too, is responsible for spreading malaria to higher altitudes and to more northern and southern latitudes.

Corruption: Border control, transportation and warehousing infrastructures are often impediments to the efficient distribution of medications and bed nets, sometimes not reaching the people who need it most.

Ultimately, the key to the control and eradication of malaria is direct community involvement (with the support of the international community) in health education, treatment of infected persons, implementing effective mosquito control measures, improved housing, and research.

There are many malaria education initiatives out there, large and small. One campaign that has come to our attention recently is Millions Against Malaria. In May, Tim Pryse and Ken Evers will fly around the world to increase awareness on malaria and raise $1 million for two charities providing health development and support in remote communities – the Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific and Mission Aviation Fellowship.

If you are travelling, IAMAT provides detailed information about malaria risk and protection measures. The 2010 editions of the World Malaria Risk Chart and How To Protect Yourself Against Malaria are now available. You can also find information about malaria by doing a country search on our website. Our popular free-standing, light weight LaMosquette bed net is also available at cost for $130 (shipping included).

Measles continues to be a threat all over the world, even making resurgences close to home. During the last decade we have seen measles outbreaks in places where this disease is considered a rare occurrence. The most recent cases were reported in Vancouver, British Columbia, and San Francisco and Amador Counties in California.

Two factors explain the resurgence of measles in our communities: International travel and lack of immunization. The cases in Vancouver show that people who contracted the infection were not vaccinated or did not follow-up with the second dose required for effective protection. Add travel to the mix and you have the recipe for spreading this highly contagious disease.

Here at home, even if you are not vaccinated you may not be exposed to vaccine preventable infectious diseases because people around you are vaccinated (herd immunity). If you are not vaccinated or only partially vaccinated and are travelling to endemic areas where immunization rates in the local population are low, you are at high risk of getting infected. Since the incubation period (time before symptoms appear) for measles is approximately 8-12 days you may unwittingly bring it back home and spread it to unvaccinated or under vaccinated people in your community.

Measles is a respiratory infection caused by the paramyxovirus and spread through infected air droplets and saliva. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, followed by a rash spreading all over the body. Complications may lead to death. Children, teenagers and young adults are at higher risk of contracting the disease.

Before you travel, find out about the health risks at your destination. The latest outbreaks in February and March 2010 were reported from South Africa (Western Cape province), Zimbabwe (Bulawayo), the Philippines (throughout the country), Nigeria (Bayelsa State), Malawi (Blantyre and Lilongwe), New Zealand (Hokianga region), and Afghanistan (North Waziristan).

IAMAT recommends that you consult your doctor to determine your immunization status and update your routine immunizations if needed before travel.

For more information: World Health Organization: Measles

When we think about Responsible Tourism, promoting respect for the cultures and the environment of our destination country come to mind. Health on the other hand, is the other component that is not often talked about.

Learning about the cultures, regional geography, languages, and customs is key to being a responsible traveler, as is informing yourself about the potential health risks at your destination. While we have the means to protect our health, we also need to be mindful of how our health status impacts the people we come across during our travels.

When it comes to travel, getting immunized against vaccine preventable diseases is not only for your benefit, but also for the locals you encounter abroad. At home you may not consider vaccination for yourself, but as a traveler, even if you are healthy, you risk being a conduit for infectious diseases.

Diseases that are considered eradicated or rare in our part of the world (polio, mumps, measles, meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever), are a serious concern for local populations where there are low vaccination rates and different immunity patterns. At home you may not be exposed to diseases because people around you are vaccinated (herd effect), but abroad - if you are not immunized - you risk catching an infection without exhibiting symptoms right away and unwittingly pass it on to someone who is not immune. Not to mention that if you do get sick, you also put a strain on already taxed local healthcare systems.

The recent H1N1 outbreak clearly showed us how infectious diseases leap from continent to continent in a matter of hours, not months or weeks or days. As travelers, we have the potential to bring over infections to places where there was little or no previous concern and we also bring them back with us, adding stress to our own medical system.

Like other infectious diseases, the spread of H1N1 also showed us how poverty plays a major role in health. Persons living in crowded conditions are more susceptible to contracting infections and fighting diseases is harder if you have little or no access to healthcare.

Judging on a recent poll by the Consumer Travel Alliance (CTA), many of us still have a long way to go to becoming responsible travelers. According to the survey of frequent travelers, 73% said that they would fly even if they had the flu. A similar survey done by TripAdvisor last Fall also found that 51% of respondents said they would fly with the flu to avoid the ticket change fee (getting trip cancellation insurance or checking the fine print of your airline's policy for reimbursements on flu and major illnesses may be part of the solution).

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are especially linked to travel. You've heard this before, but avoid unprotected sexual contact. If you are going to have sex with a stranger, use latex or polyurethane condoms consistently and correctly. Bring your own condoms from home. The spread of STIs, including HIV, is in part due to the proliferation of sex trafficking and sexual tourism.

As travelers, we not only have the responsibility to help prevent the spread of diseases, but we should also be aware of the health of tourism industry employees who take care of us. Too often, workers deal with poor and unsafe working conditions, long hours, and poor wages. For example, trail guides may face frost bite in cold environments, scuba diver instructors may get decompression sickness, and hotel room cleaners work long hours, often with no benefits. These conditions may put their health at risk and we can look out for them by encouraging them to seek medical attention.

The International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) publishes 7 Tips For the Responsible Traveler. Below are other groups promoting responsible and sustainable tourism.

• End Child Prostitution, Child Pornography, and Trafficking of Children for Sexual Purposes (ECPAT)
• International Centre for Responsible Tourism
• Sustainable Travel International
• The Sustainable Tourism Gateway

We've been getting many online inquiries from people who are getting ready for aid missions in Haiti. Emergency relief efforts are underway to help Haitians recover from the devastating earthquake of January 12.

Prior to the earthquake, Haitians were already struggling with access to health care, clean water, and proper sanitation. Only 11 percent of the population had access to water in their homes and the median life expectancy is 60 years. While the death toll continues to mount and survivors have to rebuild their lives, there is hope that reconstruction efforts can be done in such a way that Haitians affected by the earthquake will have universal access to proper shelter, food, and clean water.

So what do you need to look for if you are going to Haiti?
Malaria: Falciparum malaria (the deadly type) is endemic in Haiti. Malaria is present throughout the country, including urban areas. IAMAT recommends a Chloroquine (ARALEN) regimen in weekly doses of 500mg (300mg base). Start one week before entering the malarious area, continue weekly during your stay, and continue for four weeks after leaving the country. See the IAMAT World Malaria Risk Chart and How to Protect Yourself Against Malaria Chart for prevention and treatment information.

Typhoid, Hepatitis A, Diarrhea: These gastro-intestinal infections thrive in areas with poor sanitary and hygienic conditions. Prevention includes drinking purified water, eating well cooked foods, and peeling your own fruits. Vaccination against typhoid and hepatitis A is also highly recommended. Based on your current health status, consult your healthcare practitioner to see if you need a prescription for medication to prevent diarrhea. Click here for a full list of Food and Water safety risks in Haiti.

Hepatitis B: This viral infection is transmitted through infected blood products, sexual intercourse, or infected items such as needles or razor blades, and may cause severe liver damage. IAMAT recommends this vaccine for your protection. It is usually combined with the hepatitis A vaccine.

Tuberculosis: This air-borne infection caused by mycrobacteria is endemic in Haiti. IAMAT recommends getting a pre-departure TB skin test and to get re-tested upon your return home.

Dengue Fever: This parasitic infection is transmitted by the daytime biting Aëdes aegypti mosquito. IAMAT recommends taking anti-mosquito bite measures, including applying repellent containing DEET on exposed skin and applying permethrin spray or solution to clothing. Risk is present year-round in Haiti, although outbreaks usually occur from April to September.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Witnessing the devastation may have an impact on your mental health. Burn-out, stress, and trauma is common among aid workers. Click here for information and useful links on this issue.

Rabies: This viral infection is transmitted through the saliva of infected animal bites which affects the brain and the spinal cord, and may be fatal. IAMAT recommends getting the pre-exposure rabies vaccination (three shots).

See IAMAT's complete list of disease risks in Haiti. Unfortunately, we do not have medical contacts in this country at the moment. Your consulate or embassy should be able to help you find appropriate medical care.

If you are looking to donate to, or volunteer for, medical charities operating in Haiti, here is a list to get you started:

Doctors Without Borders | MSF USA

International Committee of the Red Cross

Médecins sans frontières | Canada

Médecins du Monde | Canada

Project Medishare

Partners in Health

For a list of reputable charities:

Information on donating to US groups

Information on donating to Canadian groups

You can understand the confusion. Similar name, different medical specialty.

Chances are you have heard these terms before, largely due to the prominence of low-cost, affordable international travel. But what exactly are medical travel and travel medicine?

Medical travel (also known as medical tourism, global healthcare, and health tourism), involves patients who seek health care abroad for a variety of reasons, including the high cost of medical treatments and long waiting times back home, their insurance plans do not cover certain procedures, or they want quick access to cutting-edge medical technology available in other countries.

Normally encompassing elective procedures such as cosmetic surgery, dental surgery, fertility or alternative medicine treatments, medical tourism is becoming increasingly popular for patients requiring life-saving procedures like heart or kidney transplants, as well as knee or hip replacements. Often, patients combine their medical care with vacation time, usually in warm-climate destinations.

Travel medicine (also known as travel health), on the other hand, focuses on preventing the spread of infectious diseases by travellers. This multi-disciplinary field touches on several medical disciplines including preventive medicine, emergency care, immunology, epidemiology, mental health, gastroenterology, and dermatology. A travel health practitioner is also knowledgeable of world geography, the health environment, and the socio-cultural customs of the traveller's destination.

The three components of travel medicine are:
The individual traveller: Your age, past and current health status, underlying chronic health conditions, budget for medications and vaccinations;
The risks: Your destination, visits to rural or remote areas, type of travel - business, adventure, leisure, long-term working assignment, epidemics and general health of the population where you will be visiting; and
The intervention: Vaccination and medication recommendations, general health advice, including food and water safety, and insect-bite prevention methods.

For many travellers, doing research on the health risks of your destination, visiting your doctor for advice, or going to a travel health clinic to get vaccinated may seem like a daunting task. Afterall, we intrepid travellers just want to hop on a plane and start our adventure. However, things that many of us take for granted or consider an inconvenience of international travel such as time zone changes, barometric pressure, or poor air quality, do affect our health and may lead to complications if you have pre-existing health problems.

It's not only diseases such as yellow fever, dengue fever, or malaria that should be of concern. Mental health, sunburns, traveller's diarrhea, heat stroke, traffic accidents, trauma such as falls or near-drowning, and prescription refills during travel are all in the purview of travel medicine. Depending on your health and risk at your destination, it is not uncommon for travel health practitioners to advise travellers to postpone a trip, change your itinerary, or not travel at all.

A recently published study of long-term travellers to developing countries is instructive. It is estimated that 50% get sick, 8% see a physician, 0.3% require hospitalization, 0.05% are evacuated back home, and 1 person dies.

Typically, medical travel also has three components:
Research: Finding the medical tourism provider and exploring the standard of care you will be receiving abroad, including whether the facility is accredited by a reputable third party and if the doctor speaks your language, is licensed and qualified for the procedure; and finding out if the the medications provided are legal and safe.
Communication: Providing your medical reports, your medical history, and your doctor's opinion; discussing the type of treatment and cost, duration of stay, including post-surgery care and follow-up mechanisms to deal with complications; and exploring if your insurance company will pay for post-procedure care if complications arise back home.
Legalities: Signing contracts, coordinating entry Visa requirements, organizing travel and accommodation logistics; finding out your legal recourse if your procedure goes wrong, including the malpractice and patient protection laws of your destination country.

In this fast growing industry - approximately 750,000 U.S. patients travelled abroad for medical procedures in 2007 with projections of 1.6 million by 2010 - more companies are now offering full medical travel packages helping patients find the appropriate medical facility and doctors, including arranging travel and accommodation. Some insurance companies are also starting to venture into the medical tourism field. However, concern over medical liability and malpractice suits abroad means that medical travel patients continue to incur out-of-pocket expenses for their procedures.

Medical tourism and travel medicine cross paths when medical travel patients are exposed to infectious diseases during their stay abroad. Depending on your health status, you may be at higher risk of contracting an infection such as antibiotic resistant MRSA (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), hepatitis A, typhoid fever, influenza, or even tuberculosis - diseases that are uncommon back home, but are endemic in other countries.

Popular medical tourism destinations such as China, Brazil, Costa Rica, India, Malaysia, Mexico, Panama, and Thailand, for example, all have malaria risk in certain regions of their country. If you are considering doing sightseeing in the surrounding area, it is prudent to know what risks you may encounter. Moreover, whether you are convalescing in a state-of-the-art facility or not, like any traveller, it's important to consider the food and water safety of your local area since your body needs to adjust to the new environment.

Medical travel, travel medicine, or not... International travel has social, economic, and political implications on local populations. If you are a traveller seeking medical care abroad or if you become ill during your trip, your health status impacts the local health care system. Being a responsible traveller means being well prepared, weighing the risks involved, and leaving the smallest footprint you can behind.

Are you planning a trip to the jungles of South America or doing extended hiking and camping in Central America? You may be at risk of Chagas' Disease.

Transmitted by the Triatoma insect, which typically bites its victims on the face at night, the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite enters your bloodstream and affects organ tissues, most commonly the heart.

Found in forest ecosystems and poorly built homes, including huts and cabins, the Triatoma insect is commonly known as 'vinchuca' in Spanish or 'barbeiro' in Portuguese. In North America, we know it as the 'assassin bug' or 'conenose bug', but here it does not carry the disease.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Chagas' Disease affects between 16-18 million people. The disease largely spreads with the rise of migration to urban and suburban populations and increasing deforestation. Many countries in the region now have active health education and eradication programs (Chile and Uruguay have been declared free of Chagas' Disease. Although the Triatoma insect is still present in these two countries there is no evidence that the insect is continuing to transmit the parasite.)

Approximately 10% of persons infected with Chagas' Disease experience an acute phase, but for most it is a silent infection showing up many years later often mimicking chronic heart conditions, or as gastro-intestinal complications.

If you are staying in low standard accommodations, use a bed net to protect yourself (IAMAT sells LaMosquette, a light, free-standing - no ceiling hooks required, permethrin treated bed net). Make sure you thoroughly check the room (behind picture frames, along baseboards, and in furniture cupboards) for any evidence of the insect. You may also want to spray the room with insecticide.

For more information about the best prevention methods as well as the transmission patterns and geographical distribution of Chagas' Disease, see When Hiking Through Latin America, Be Alert to Chagas' Disease.

We have just added 3 new clinics to our Medical Directory. We are very pleased to welcome into our network the following doctors who are committed to helping travellers.

• Ankara, Turkey (2 locations)
  Bayindir Hospital Kavaklidere and Bayindir Hospital Sogutozu
  Prof. Levent Doganci, MD
  
• Oslo, Norway
  Reiseklinikken - Oslo Travel Clinic
  Dr. Gunnar Hasle, MD, CTH
  
• Sippy Downs, Australia
  TCA / Travel Clinics Australia
  Sandra Peters, BChB, CTH
  

Keep checking our Blog for new additions to our Medical Directory before your trip. Our online version is always being updated with new additions and contact information changes.

IAMAT Staff

Angeline (right) and Winona (left).
We recently met up with Dr. Ye Wei (Winona) and Dr. Meng Jing (Angeline) to talk about their two-month internship at Kaiser Permanente's Koolau Clinic and Honolulu Clinic in Hawaii. The two medical practitioners from China were each awarded a scholarship through our International Travel Medicine Education Program. The fund, which is solely supported by the generous donations of IAMAT members, has given 13 scholarships since 2002.

Chosen for their leadership skills, the two doctors will return home to teach their colleagues the skills they have learned in Hawaii, improving travel medicine practices in their workplace for the benefit of ill travellers.

The art and science of travel medicine
During the two-month intensive training program, Angeline and Winona are immersed in all aspects of pre-travel advice, travel medicine diagnosis, and post-travel consultation.

When asked what interests them most about travel medicine, their enthusiasm is inspiring. At the heart of their work is cultivating the relationship between caregiver and patient, ensuring that travellers are well informed to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and ultimately having a safe and healthy trip.

For Winona, who works at the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, travel medicine is a multi-disciplinary subject. "Not only does it deal with medical and diagnostic aspects, but I have to be knowledgeable in world and regional geography, local climate, cultural and societal differences, legal requirements regarding medication and vaccination for the patient's destination. Providing comprehensive travel health advice to travellers is an art."

"No two consultations are exactly the same," adds Angeline who likes the diversity of her work. The challenge is to provide individualized recommendations for each traveller and keeping up with the latest in the constantly evolving field. "It's really important to keep up with up-to-date concepts and practices if you want to improve yourself in this field," she notes.

Getting the scholarship gives her the chance to kick-start her professional career in the field. A doctor at the Sichuan International Travel Healthcare Center, Angeline hopes to expand her scope of knowledge and share it with her colleagues and as many travellers as possible. "Since I am a novice in the field, the IAMAT scholarship has promised me a good beginning and I think that I'll have a bright future in travel medicine. I am so lucky to have IAMAT as a guide from the very beginning of my training. People always say that having a good beginning is already half the battle."

Winona says that for her, the internship is an opportunity to expand her qualifications and further promote travel health in China. "I have worked at my Clinic for almost eight years as a doctor and becoming a IAMAT scholar gives me the chance to go outside of China to increase my understanding of travel medicine." She tells us that through her background in immunology, she's interested in vaccine recommendation principles, specifically how they apply to different age groups and a patient's past and current health status.

Helping international travellers
Travel medicine is a relatively new discipline in China and is coming to prominence in large part to the economic reforms that have drastically increased the country's incoming and outbound international travel. Since 1995, IAMAT has been instrumental in advising the country's travel medicine and health network, the Chinese International Travel Healthcare Association (CITHA), develop and improve travel medicine practices among their clinics.

Says Angeline, "One of the first things I will do after I return is to share my experience with my colleagues and make as many people aware about the importance of travel medicine. The majority of Chinese people have not heard about travel medicine, so going for a pre-travel consultation to protect themselves is obviously not on their list." Her clinic will also start offering post-travel evaluations to Chinese nationals returning home after long-term working assignments in countries like Zimbabwe or the Democratic Republic of Congo where they are at high risk of contracting infectious diseases such as malaria or yellow fever.

A key component of IAMAT's scholarship program is to promote cross-cultural exchanges of medical knowledge and practices. It offers a chance for our scholars and their Hawaiian colleagues to exchange ideas and developments in the field practiced in their respective countries.

Training in Hawaii is a good opportunity to brush-up on their English speaking and writing skills. Says Angeline, "Having good communication skills, especially with someone of different education and cultural backgrounds is important."

A typical day at the clinic
The two interns have a busy schedule. Training takes them to the Koolau Clinic three times a week and to the Honolulu Clinic twice a week. Their day starts at 8:00am and usually ends at 5:00pm, in addition to studying in the evenings. Their supervisors, Dr. Vernon Ansdell and Dr. Johnnie Yates provide them with information about the patient's travel destination and health status the day before the client comes to the clinic, that way they have time to prepare their cases.

They also participate in the actual patient visit and provide advice based on their prior research and discussions with their colleagues. They are also given hypothetical cases to study and present the best approaches based on the patient's needs. "Through self-directed learning, discussion and problem-solving I can understand and master the key points of a specific case," says Angeline.

For her part, Winona enjoys the face-to-face consultations with patients, especially meeting new people and learning about their destinations and reasons for travel. Seeing how their colleagues interact with their patients is refreshing. "They are so warm-hearted and sincere with their patients, like old friends," notes Winona. The professionalism and physician-patient interaction is one aspect of her training that she'll take back to China to teach her colleagues. Adds Angeline, "The consultation part is neat, because face-to-face communication is direct and flexible. You don't know what patients will ask you or tell you, but you are the one leading the conversation."

The internship, however, is not all about studying. Both Winona and Angeline take the time to learn about Hawaiian culture and do sightseeing on weekends. They recently visited Diamond Head volcano and are planning to do some snorkeling soon. Being away from home for a long time can be hard, but both women keep in touch with their family and friends through online video-chatting. Winona, who has a five year-old son, Wang Ye Da, also writes about her overseas experiences on her Blog (in Chinese). "The people at the Clinic are so nice, so friendly, and they help me a lot, such as picking me up to go sight-seeing and going to restaurants to eat local specialties. I'm not lonely."

Photo credit: Vernon Ansdell