Travel medicine facilities: The first nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey in Japan

The Effect of International Travel Arrivals on the New HIV Infections in 15–49 Years Aged Group Among 109 Countries or Territories From 2000 to 2018

Objective

The prevalent international travel may have an impact on new HIV infections, but related studies were lacking. We aimed to explore the association between international travel arrivals and new HIV infections in 15–49 years aged group from 2000 to 2018, to make tailored implications for HIV prevention.

Methods

We obtained the data of new HIV infections from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and international travel arrivals from the World Bank. Correlation analysis was used to explore the relation briefly. Log-linear models were built to analyze the association between international travel arrivals and new HIV infections.

Results

International travel arrivals were positively correlated with new HIV infections (correlation coefficients: 0.916, p < 0.001). After controlling population density, the median age of the total population (years), socio-demographic index (SDI), travel-related mandatory HIV testing, HIV-related restrictions, and antiretroviral therapy coverage, there were 6.61% (95% CI: 5.73, 7.50; p < 0.001) percentage changes in new HIV infections of 15–49 years aged group associated with a 1 million increase in international travel arrivals.

Conclusions

Higher international travel arrivals were correlated with new HIV infections in 15–49 years aged group. Therefore, multipronged structural and effective strategies and management should be implemented and strengthened.

Interaction of climate and socio-ecological environment drives the dengue outbreak in epidemic region of China

Transmission of dengue virus is a complex process with interactions between virus, mosquitoes and humans, influenced by multiple factors simultaneously. Studies have examined the impact of climate or socio-ecological factors on dengue, or only analyzed the individual effects of each single factor on dengue transmission. However, little research has addressed the interactive effects by multiple factors on dengue incidence. This study uses the geographical detector method to investigate the interactive effect of climate and socio-ecological factors on dengue incidence from two perspectives: over a long-time series and during outbreak periods; and surmised on the possibility of dengue outbreaks in the future. Results suggest that the temperature plays a dominant role in the long-time series of dengue transmission, while socio-ecological factors have great explanatory power for dengue outbreaks. The interactive effect of any two factors is greater than the impact of single factor on dengue transmission, and the interactions of pairs of climate and socio-ecological factors have more significant impact on dengue. Increasing temperature and surge in travel could cause dengue outbreaks in the future. Based on these results, three recommendations are offered regarding the prevention of dengue outbreaks: mitigating the urban heat island effect, adjusting the time and frequency of vector control intervention, and providing targeted health education to travelers at the border points. This study hopes to provide meaningful clues and a scientific basis for policymakers regarding effective interventions against dengue transmission, even during outbreaks.