Infectious diseases - Wikivoyage, the free collaborative travel and tourism guide - Maladies infectieuses — Wikivoyage, le guide de voyage et de tourisme collaboratif gratuit

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Infectious disease
World map of countries with mass influenza vaccination programs.
Information
CIM-10	A00-B99
CIM-9	001-139
Prophylaxis:
Medical warning
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There are a number of Infectious diseases which present a proven risk to the health of travelers because they are rare or unknown in their region due to the high level of hygiene that prevails there. However, they are still rife in many parts of the world where the population does not have access to a sufficient level of hygiene, whether it be dewashing, disinfection or food preservation, or to appropriate medicine. lack of financial means.

This article is intended to be an introduction to the various aspects of this subject such as the means of transmission, vaccination, available therapies and precautions to be taken.

Understand

We must not confuse “infection” and “contagion”. The infection is caused by an external agent which can be a parasite, bacteria, virus, fungus or yeast. Contagion means that the disease can spread between contemporary subjects, of the same species or not, either directly, that is to say through the hands, sexual intercourse, blood exchanges but also through the air. and dust either indirectly, that is to say via carriers or vectors, other than air, such as faeces, water, medical instruments, etc. All contagious diseases are also infectious, but the reverse is not necessarily the case.

According to modern postulates, derived from those issued by doctors Robert Koch and Friedrich Löffler, the definition of an infectious disease must meet six criteria:

1. The nucleic acid sequence, that is to say the code of the strands ofDNA, of the microorganism must be traced in most cases of the disease;
2. The nucleic acid sequence of the microorganism must not be found (or rarely) in uninjured individuals;
3. The nucleic acid sequence must be detected by molecular hybridization in pathological areas of a tissue or organ and not be detected in healthy areas of the same tissue or organ;
4. The number of copies of the pathogen's nucleic acid sequence must vary in line with clinical developments, including under treatment;
5. The identification of the micro-organism deduced from the nucleic sequence must be compatible with the biological properties known for the phylum, that is to say the branching in the classifications of biology, to which it belongs;
6. These molecular results must be reproducible.

Before leaving

Legal requirements

Front and back cover of an international certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis.

Many countries require that newcomers and / or their residents be vaccinated against a range of infectious diseases and be able to present an international certificate of vaccination against certain diseases.

• International certificate of vaccination or prophylaxis  – Model international certificate of vaccination or certificate attesting to the administration of prophylaxis. (last update March 2018)

Regarding arrivals, these requirements often depend on the countries that the traveler has visited, in the more or less recent past, or intends to visit. For example, if you have recently traveled to certain countries ofAfrica subtropical orSouth America, other countries may require proof of vaccination for more than ten days and less than ten years against yellow fever before letting you enter their territory. THE'Saudi Arabia requires that travelers going to one of the great pilgrimages (haji) are vaccinated against the various forms of meningitis. Many countries have tighter border controls on visitors coming directly from Guinea, from Liberia and of Sierra Leone because of the epidemic ofEbola which affected these countries between 2014 and the end of 2015. It will be wise to inquire with the embassy of the visited country about the legal requirements before applying for an entry visa.

If you are undergoing medical treatment, it will also be wise to have a copy, translated into the official language of the country visited and legalized by its embassy, ​​of the prescription for curative remedies, especially if these contain psychotropic drugs and you are in right to own them for your personal use.

Prophylactic precautions

Certain vaccinations, especially if you are going to an intertropical zone or to a third world country, will be one of the keys to a successful trip. Those against viral hepatitis, the tetanus, the typhoid, the yellow fever, the typhus or the rage are the most recommended.

• Programs and projects, International travel and health  – Diseases preventable by vaccination and vaccine on the WHO website. (last update March 2018)

A travel pharmacy taken in his luggage and containing medicines for common ailments, first aid equipment and some specific things depending on the destination and individual state of health is also recommended so that the trip does not end in drama.

• First aid kit for travel  – The Wikivoyage page dedicated to this subject. (last update March 2018)

Therapeutic precautions

Travelers undergoing medical treatment should take the precaution of taking sufficient medication with them. Similar medicines may have a different dosage in other countries, for example insulin preparations for diabetics.

Insurance and assistance

Legal systems

A European French health insurance card.

A trip of several days to a foreign country, even a neighbor of yours, requires medical coverage at least equivalent to that of residents of the country visited.

For residents of the 28 countries ofEuropean Union, ofIceland, from Liechtenstein, of Norway and of Swiss There is a European health insurance card valid in these 32 countries (except your own of course) and which allows you to benefit from the "third party payment" system set up in the country visited. This card is free and valid for two years. In Belgium, it is obtained from its mutual, in France and in Swiss from his health insurance fund. At Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, it is automatically present on the back of the Luxembourg health insurance card. In all other cases, reimbursement of costs not borne by the patient in his own country will be made on presentation of receipts to his mutual or health insurance after his return.

• European Commission free. – The European health insurance card. (last update March 2018)

The residents Quebecois, even if they are traveling to another province of Canada, must complete a reimbursement form from the Régie de l'assurance maladie accompanied by receipts. However, the Quebec government has entered into reciprocal social security agreements including a health component with certain countries: Belgium, the Denmark, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Finland, the France, the Norway, the Portugal and the Sweden provided you have a health insurance card.

• Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec  – Refund request form. (last update Feb. 2018)

Private systems

A number of private generalist or specialized insurance companies issue “travel assistance” policies which provide, as a minimum and in the event of hospitalization, for the repatriation of the policyholder and of the persons insured by the contract as well as, possibly of his vehicle (s). Other guarantees can be added such as, for example, the payment of expenses not reimbursed by the legal system of the traveler, the advance of funds, the dispatch of a medical team, etc.

The two leading specialist companies in the travel assistance market are Allianz Global Assistance (formerly Mondial Assistance) and Europe Assistance, but you should not hesitate to compare with your own general insurance company or others.

• Allianz Global Assistance  – The different types of temporary assistance contracts. (last update Feb. 2018)
• Europe Assistance  – The different types of temporary assistance contracts. (last update Feb. 2018)
• Katenix  – A travel insurance comparator for Canadians. (last update Feb. 2018)

During the trip

Illustration dating from 1939 showing the different means of pollution of water by bacteria.

As soon as you arrive, ask for emergency numbers and whether or not you can use the free international number 112.

On site, many ailments affecting the digestive system can be avoided by applying a few simple precautions:

• wherever you are, wash your hands with soap before each meal, before and after going to the toilet or changing an infant, otherwise use a hand sanitizer.
• in places where the elementary rules of hygiene are obviously not respected or, even, if you suspect it, to peel the fruits and vegetables, to avoid unpasteurized milk, raw eggs, raw vegetables and undercooked meat, to cook food over 65 ° C, only drink drinks that have been opened in front of you, otherwise water that has been imperatively boiled or purified by adding chlorine tablets, avoid ice cubes,

For airborne illnesses, avoid standing directly in front of a sneezing or coughing person and check the cleanliness of the air conditioning system in your place of stay, if it is so equipped.

Any simple wound must be cleaned and disinfected as quickly as possible using an antiseptic. Avoid rubbing your eyes without washing your hands first, otherwise use a cloth that you are sure is clean or a new, clean disposable tissue. It is also preferable to only use this type of tissue for a single use and not to leave it in the wild.

In terms of adventurous sex, more than ever, don't forget the adage “Go out covered”.

In some cases, the embassy or consulate of the traveler's country may also provide assistance to the traveler, but this will only be after exhausting other options available to him to resolve the problem he is facing.

• Belgium  – Belgians in distress. (last update March 2018)
• Canada  – Assistance to travelers. (last update March 2018)
• France  – The role of a consulate. (last update March 2018)
• Swiss  – Help abroad. (last update March 2018)

Diseases by means of transmission

The sign " "In the" Contagion "column indicates that the disease can be transmitted not only by the vector in the" Transmission "column but also directly from human to human either by contact (wound, saliva, sexual intercourse, etc.) or by the ambient air. These are therefore diseases commonly called "contagious".

However, we must never forget that all can also be transmitted by direct contact between two blood systems (wound to wound, infected syringe).

Last name	Region (s)	Transmission	Type	Contagion	Vaccine	Therapy	Remark
Amoebiasis	global	water, food	parasite				confined to developing countries.
Bilharzia	intertropical, Mediterranean rim	water	parasitic worms				transmission is not by ingestion but during swimming.
Candidiasis	global	various	yeast
Chlamydiosis	global	human birds	bacterium				human transmission through sexual intercourse, avian transmission (mainly parrots) through the air.
Chikungunya	tropics	mosquito	virus (alphavirus)				experimental vaccine.
Cholera	global	water, food	bacterium				confined to poor regions.
Covid-19	global	human	virus (coronavirus)
Whooping cough	global	air	bacterium				confined to intertropical Africa and South Asia.
Cryptosporidiosis	global	water	parasite				watch out for swimming pool water.
Dengue	intertropical	mosquito	virus (flavivirus)				vaccine available only in certain countries (see the list on the page Dengue).
Dermatitis in Paederus	global	Paederus	venom
Traveler's diarrhea	global	water, food	bacteria, virus, parasite
Diphtheria	global	mammal, raw milk	bacterium				located mainly in Asia and Brazil.
Ebola	Sub-Saharan Africa	bodily fluids	virus (filivirus)				the natural reservoir would be the bat
Tick-borne encephalitis	global	tick	virus (arbovirus)
Japanese encephalitis	Asia	mosquito	virus (flavivirus)
Echinococcosis	global	mammal	parasite
Lassa fever	West Africa	mouse, rat	virus (arenavirus)
Rift Valley fever	Africa (including Madagascar), Saudi Arabia, Yemen	contaminated tissues, raw milk, insect bite	virus (phlebovirus)				a vaccine exists for cattle
West Nile fever	global	mosquito	virus (flavivirus)
Yellow fever	intertropical	mosquito	virus (flavivirus)
Zika fever	global	mosquito	virus (flavivirus)				mild illness except for the fetus
Filariasis	intertropical	diptera	parasite
Scabies	global	Sarcoptes scabiei hominis	parasite
Gonorrhea	global	human	bacterium				transmission through sexual intercourse.
Flu	global	air	virus (orthomyxovirus)
Viral hepatitis * TO * B * VS * D * E	global	water, food blood blood Hepatitis B mammal	virus * (picornavirus) * (hepadnavirus) * (flavivirus or hepacivirus) * (deltavirus) * (hepevirus)				almost zero occurrence in Western Europe, North America and Australia.
Herpes	global	human	virus (herpesvirus)				contact transmission.
Leishmaniasis	intertropical, North Africa	sandfly	parasite
Legionellosis	global	water	bacterium				pay attention to the maintenance of air conditioners.
Meadow	global	human	bacterium				confined to poor regions.
Loxoscelism	worldwide (outside the polar and tropical areas)	Loxosceles	venom
Chagas disease	South America, central America	Thumbtack	parasite
Lyme disease	global	tick	bacterium
Sleeping sickness	Sub-Saharan Africa	tsetse fly	parasite
Malaria (malaria)	intertropical	mosquito	parasite				vaccine only for children aged between six weeks and seventeen months.
Meningitis	North Africa, West Africa, Sahel, Brazil	various	virus, bacterium, mushroom, parasite
O'nyong-nyong	Intertropical Africa	mosquito	virus (alphavirus)				no fatal cases recorded.
Onchocerciasis	Africa, central America	fly	parasitic worms
Mumps	global	air	virus (rubulavirus)				confined to developing countries.
Papillonite	West Africa, South America	butterfly	allergen
Plague * bubonic and septicaemic * pharyngeal * pneumonic	rural areas (mainly in Africa and Central Asia)	chip food air	bacillus Yersinia pestis				the vaccines have a very short duration of protection (around 6 months) and do not protect against pneumonic plague.
Epidemic arthritis	Oceania	mosquito	virus (alphavirus)				also known as "Ross River fever". Search for a vaccine in progress.
Poliomyelitis	global	food	virus (poliovirus)
Rage	global	mammal	virus (rhabdovirus)				transmission by biting or licking.
Rickettsiosis	global	tick, lice, mite	bacterium				The most serious forms are the different types of typhus.
Measles	global	air	virus (morbillivirus)
Rubella	global	air	virus (rubivirus)				serious especially for the fetus.
Salmonellosis * Paratyphoid * Typhoid	global	food	bacterium				the most severe forms are typhoid and the different paratyphoid.
Sepsis	global	wound	bacterium
Syphilis	global	human	bacterium				transmission through sexual intercourse.
AIDS	global	human	virus (retrovirus)				only retroviral treatments.
SARS	global	human	virus (coronavirus)
Tetanus	global	various	bacterium				wound transmission.
Tourista	global	food	bacterium, virus, parasite				often benign but can be the consequence of amoebiasis or a salmonellosis.
Trachoma	global	human	bacterium
Trichinellosis	global	meat	parasite				consumption of undercooked meat.
Tuberculosis	global	homeotherm	bacillus
Tungose	intertropical	chip-chique	parasite				the only therapy is the mechanical extraction of the eggs.
Typhus	global	mite, tick, louse	bacterium
Urticaria	global	insect, plant	allergen				among the most serious are contact with ragweed pollen or sap.
Varicella	global	human	virus (herpesvirus)				also affects adults in tropical settings.
Warts	global	human	virus (papillomavirus)				Sexual transmission or skin contact.

Further information

• Health topics  – All the health topics covered by WHO on its website. (last update March 2018)

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