Arboviruses are a category of viral disease spread by mosquitoes, sandflies or ticks. They include dengue and chikungunya, both of which are surging globally — appearing not just in tropical areas, but also in places like Europe and North America. This is a serious concern for everyone, including travellers visiting at-risk areas and the communities that could face outbreaks if these diseases are brought home.

In this episode, our guests and the ISTM podcast team discuss what's driving these changes, including climate change and the role travellers play in spreading these viruses. Our guests also share vital information about new vaccines, like Qdenga and Ixchiq, and how they might benefit travellers as their availability increases.

Guests in this episode include Dr. Ralph Huits and Dr. Susan Hills. Dr. Huits is an infectious disease physician and senior researcher at the Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital in Negrar, Italy, as well as a Co-Principal Investigator of GeoSentinel (Research lead), the emerging infectious diseases network of the International Society of Travel Medicine and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Dr. Susan Hills is a medical epidemiologist in the Arboviral Diseases Branch at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado. She currently leads the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Work Group drafting recommendations for use of new chikungunya vaccines in the United States.

This episode of the ISTM podcast was directed by digital communications lead Dr. Sarah McGuinness with support from ISTM president-elect Dr. Anne McCarthy, ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Albie de Frey, CEO of Travel Doctor Corporate.

With practical tips for staying safe during your travels and insights into efforts to control these diseases, the episode is a must-listen for anyone planning to travel or interested in travel health.

LINKS

• WHO Dengue Dashboard: https://worldhealthorg.shinyapps.io/dengue_global/
• CDC Areas at risk of dengue: https://www.cdc.gov/dengue/areas-with-risk/index.html
• ECDC Dengue worldwide overview: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/dengue-monthly
• CDC Areas at risk for chikungunya: https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/data-maps/index.html
• ECDC Chikungunya worldwide overview: https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/chikungunya-monthly
• CDC information on chikungunya vaccine: https://www.cdc.gov/chikungunya/prevention/chikungunya-vaccine.html
• For more on the impact of Wolbachia on dengue control in Australia, check out this study: https://doi.org/10.1093/jtm/taae014
• To follow us on your favourite podcast platform, go to our show feed on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or YouTube. Please remember to rate the show!
• Travel Unravelled is sponsored by IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers. Each episode is produced by Ghost Bureau, the Toronto content agency.

ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib and digital communications lead Dr. Sarah McGuinness discuss a strange medical case drawn from the pages of the Journal of Travel Medicine. Approximately two billion people around the world are afflicted with toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that typically results from exposure to cat feces. Most of those infected don't have any symptoms, but in some cases, the disease can cause muscle aches, fever and swollen glands. So is it possible that the Brazilian traveller contracted toxoplasmosis from the pink dolphins of the Amazon river? (A mini episode.)

LINKS

The Journal of Travel Medicine article: “Human toxoplasmosis as a result of swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon river?” By Sylvia Lemos Hinrichsen, PhD, Tatiana Aguiar Santos Vilella, MSc, Reginaldo Gonçalves Lima Neto, PhD

The episode web page at ISTM features supplementary pics of Drs. Aisha Khatib and Sarah McGuiness in the Amazon.

Travel Unravelled is sponsored by IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers.

KEY MOMENTS

00:00 Introduction

00:10 Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Sarah McGuinness introduce the topic of toxoplasmosis.

02:01 Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Sarah McGuinness discuss their own experiences swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon River.

03:10 Explanation of what toxoplasmosis is—a zoonotic disease caused by a parasite that can infect warm-blooded animals, including humans.

04:31 Discussion of how toxoplasmosis is typically transmitted, including through contact with cat feces and eating undercooked meat.

05:57 Uncertainty around how the traveller in the case report contracted toxoplasmosis from swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon.

08:04 Overview of the main transmission routes for toxoplasmosis that travellers should be aware of, including contact with cat feces, eating undercooked meat, and swimming in contaminated water.

11:21 Advice on testing and treatment for toxoplasmosis, particularly for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems.

13:04 Key takeaways on the importance of good hygiene practices and being aware of potential disease risks when travelling.

Travel Unravelled: an ISTM Podcast explores the latest developments, challenges and innovations in travel health and medicine. Join ISTM President-Elect Dr. Anne McCarthy, Travel Doctor Corporate CEO Dr. Albie De Frey and ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib as they chat with experts around the world and give you practical tips for your next adventure.

Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just starting to plan your first international trip, Travel Unravelled is your personal guide to staying healthy while exploring the world—without taking up any room in your suitcase.