Arboviruses are a category of viral disease spread by mosquitoes, sandflies or ticks. They include dengue and chikungunya, both of which are surging globally — appearing not just in tropical areas, but also in places like Europe and North America. This is a serious concern for everyone, including travellers visiting at-risk areas and the communities that could face outbreaks if these diseases are brought home.

In this episode, our guests and the ISTM podcast team discuss what's driving these changes, including climate change and the role travellers play in spreading these viruses. Our guests also share vital information about new vaccines, like Qdenga and Ixchiq, and how they might benefit travellers as their availability increases.

Guests in this episode include Dr. Ralph Huits and Dr. Susan Hills. Dr. Huits is an infectious disease physician and senior researcher at the Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital in Negrar, Italy, as well as a Co-Principal Investigator of GeoSentinel (Research lead), the emerging infectious diseases network of the International Society of Travel Medicine and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Susan Hills is a medical epidemiologist in the Arboviral Diseases Branch at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado. She currently leads the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Work Group drafting recommendations for use of new chikungunya vaccines in the United States.

This episode of the ISTM podcast was directed by digital communications lead Dr. Sarah McGuinness with support from ISTM president-elect Dr. Anne McCarthy, ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Albie de Frey, CEO of Travel Doctor Corporate.

With practical tips for staying safe during your travels and insights into efforts to control these diseases, the episode is a must-listen for anyone planning to travel or interested in travel health.

LINKS

• WHO Dengue Dashboard: https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/dengue_global/
• CDC Areas at risk of dengue: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/areas-with-risk/index.html
• ECDC Dengue worldwide overview: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/dengue-monthly
• CDC Areas at risk for chikungunya: https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/data-maps/index.html
• ECDC Chikungunya worldwide overview: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/chikungunya-monthly
• CDC information on chikungunya vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/prevention/chikungunya-vaccine.html
• For more on the impact of Wolbachia on dengue control in Australia, check out this study: https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taae014
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• Travel Unravelled is sponsored by IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers. Each episode is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency.