Germans Often Return Home with Infectious Diseases after Vacationing Abroad
Traveling can be an exciting experience, but it may also bring unwanted surprises - like infectious diseases. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recently revealed this in its 'Epidemiological Bulletin,' highlighting the top infectious diseases imported into Germany in 2022 by returning travelers.
The report showed a significant decrease in these cases in 2020 and 2021 due to travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the numbers have rebounded sharply in 2022, attributed to the intense tourism activities of German vacationers.
Top Imported Infectious Diseases in Germany
Malaria was the most frequently diagnosed among returning travelers, with 765 registered cases in 2022. Next on the list was giardiasis, a diarrheal disease, with 477 cases, followed by dengue fever with 375 cases, shigellosis with 146 cases and hepatitis A with 141 cases.
Other common diseases that German vacationers contract overseas included 46 cases of typhoid fever, 22 cases of paratyphoid, 20 cases of brucellosis, 16 cases of chikungunya virus infection, 10 cases of Zika virus infection, 6 cases of cholera, 5 cases of West Nile virus, and 3 cases of leprosy.
However, viral hemorrhagic fever, typhus, relapsing fever, plague, poliomyelitis, and rabies were not found to have been imported into Germany.
Geographical Distribution of Imported Diseases
Malaria was most commonly contracted by German travelers in African countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, and Cameroon. The RKI also reported cases in countries like Uganda, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
On the other hand, giardiasis was the second most commonly imported disease, with cases originating predominantly from India, Spain, and Italy. Other countries with reported cases included Mexico, Turkey, Colombia, Thailand, Egypt, and Ghana.
Dengue fever, caused by a virus and transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, was mainly contracted by Germans in Cuba, India, Thailand, Indonesia, the Maldives, Brazil, Mexico, Nepal, Costa Rica, and the Philippines.
The RKI also reported cases of West Nile virus and other arbovirus infections in five countries, leprosy in three countries, and Zika virus infection in ten countries.
Traveler's Health Considerations
Before embarking on a foreign vacation, it is essential to be aware of the health risks involved. Travelers are advised to consult their healthcare providers and get vaccinated for the necessary diseases according to their destination's health requirements.
Travelers should also be mindful of the food they consume and the water they drink, as contaminated food and water can spread diseases such as giardiasis and cholera. Mosquito-borne diseases like malaria and dengue fever can be avoided by using insect repellents and nets.
Related Topics
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The RKI did not provide a specific list of the most commonly imported infectious diseases by German travelers in 2022 in the sources reviewed. Nonetheless, the RKI provides information on various infectious diseases and their epidemiological profiles in Germany, including acute respiratory infections, COVID-19, influenza, and mpox (monkeypox) [2][4][5].
To obtain detailed data on travel-related infections, it is recommended to consult the RKI’s official publications or their website for the most accurate and up-to-date information. Additionally, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reports often provide comprehensive information on communicable disease threats, including travel-related diseases [3][5].
