Module 5: Travel Medicine - Introduction

BUSINESS-PERSON AS TRAVELLER:

Consider the following points:

• The world has truly become a global village. (See BP's example);
• Globalisation has accelerated global travel.
• Removal of barriers has seen travel to the most remote and inhospitable locations.
• Travel to remote locations has also disturbed local ecosystems leading to the spread of disease.

POPULATIONS ENGAGED IN FREQUENT TRAVEL:

• Pilots and flight crew.
• Army and navy personnel.
• Seamen.
• Train drivers.
• Courier carriers.
• Maintenance personnel.
• Tourist industry.
• Contractors and individuals with special skills (eg. drill riggers, petroleum engineers).
• Foreign aid workers.
• Emergency workers.
• Athletes.

SPECIAL POPULATIONS:

• Pregnant women.
• Children.
• Elderly.
• Those with pre-existing conditions.
• Individuals with disabilities.

TRAVELLER CATEGORIES:

• Short-term travellers (days).
• Medium term (months).
• Long term (years) - expatriates with or without families.
• Regular or infrequent.

TRAVEL AS A LIFESTYLE:

• For many travelling becomes a lifestyle with all of the attendant risks.
• Life revolves around trips away.

MANAGING TRAVEL HEALTH RISKS:

• Manage it like any other occupational hazard.
• Identify hazard.
• Determine risks.
• Quantify risks.
• Manage risks.
• Do regular internal and external audits.
• Evaluate program and compliance.

Risks related to:

• Pre-existing conditions.
• Flying or other modes of transport.
• Host location.
• General - for example, stress.