Advice on malaria and yellow fever prevention provided at travel agencies in Cuzco, Peru

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about malaria in travelers to risk areas in Peru

BACKGROUND

Travelers from international airports who travel to endemic countries know the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about malaria; however, it is still unknown to interprovincial travelers who go to the endemic regions of Peru. The objective is to determine the level of KAP about malaria among Peruvian travelers to risk areas.

METHODS AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

This are an analytical cross-sectional study of 277 passengers from a bus station in a low-risk area of malaria in Peru, whose destination was an intermediate/high-risk area during February-March 2018. Absolute and relative frequencies of personal variables associated with the trip and KAP were estimated.

RESULTS

Less than 50% know the main symptoms of malaria and at what time of day there is a greater risk of becoming infected. Five out of ten people knew which practices were preventive against contagion, and four out of ten answered that the treatment can be given in a health establishment, pharmacy, or by some healer.

CONCLUSIONS

Travelers to malaria endemic areas have a low level of knowledge and practice (39.7%) as well as an inadequate preventive attitude (35.4%) against malaria.

The role of travel agents in travel medicine-a study with agencies from São Paulo, Brazil

A survey in São Paulo, Brazil, assessed travel agents’ knowledge on travellers’ health. Data were collected using an online questionnaire. Of 200 agencies contacted, 32 answered (34 agents). Most consultants reported discussing personal safety, health insurance and vaccination. Few provided information on water and food diseases or sexually transmitted infections.

The 2019 Pan American games: Communicable disease risks and travel medicine advice for visitors to Peru - Recommendations from the Latin American Society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI)

The next Pan American Games will be held in Peru in the period July-August 2019. Around 6680 participants from 41 countries are expected to take part in the event. There will be a total of 62 sport disciplines. This event poses specific challenges, given its size and the diversity of attendees. Such gatherings also have potential for the transmission of imported or endemic communicable diseases, including measles in view of the global outbreak situation, but also tropical endemic diseases. In anticipation of increased travel, a panel of experts from the Latin American Society for Travel Medicine (SLAMVI) developed the current recommendations taking into consideration the epidemiology and risks of the main communicable diseases at potential destinations in Peru, recommended immunizations and other preventives measures. These recommendations can be used as a basis for advice for travelers and travel medicine practitioners. Mosquito-borne infections also pose a challenge. Although Lima is malaria free, travelers visiting Peruvian high-risk areas for malaria should be assessed regarding the need for chemoprophylaxis. Advice on the correct timing and use of repellents and other personal protection measures is key to preventing vector-borne infections. Other important recommendations for travelers should focus on preventing water- and food-borne diseases including travelers' diarrhea. This paper addresses pre-travel, preventive strategies to reduce the risk of acquiring communicable diseases during the Pan American Games and also reviews the spectrum of endemic infections in Lima and Peru to facilitate the recognition and management of infectious diseases in travelers returning to their countries of origin.