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Approximately one quarter of all U.S. air-passenger trips (involving US airlines only) are to and from foreign destinations, which accounted for around 4.5% of total US person-miles in 2019. Travel demand modeling and US travel surveys often overlook this overseas travel. Therefore, this study assesses travel demand, patterns, and costs (in time and money) between major US and foreign airports worldwide, as well as ground trips to Mexico and Canada, using 2019 DB1B flight ticket data, the 2016–2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS), and border crossing data. A model of trip distribution, from 334 US airports to 1,028 foreign airports, shows how trip flows fall by about 41% with every 7-hour increase in flight start-to-end time. Destinations hosting tourist attractions (e.g, London, Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Dubai) are also a practically significant variable in the model, increasing flows by 48%. Flight fares (for one-way itineraries) increase by $0.078 per mile for coach class and $0.163 per mile for business class and higher, according to feasible generalized least-squares models. These fares are higher for English-speaking destinations than non-English-speaking destinations, as well as for trips from April to June (as compared to January to March with similar distances and seating types). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The restrictions to international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic have posed significant barriers to transnational family life. This paper focusses on the negotiation of familial obligations of over 300 young EU nationals aged 14–25 living in Britain. We examine how care practices were reconfigured within families, as forced immobility, absence and loss became part of transnational family life. Young people's agency was activated to engage in desirable circulations of care, while they also engaged in acts of citizenship locally that had a care dimension. Many young people contributed to local initiatives of caring for others, such as mutual aid initiatives and local groups extending care practices to non-familial relations. We examine thus the range of care receiving and care giving practices and resources involved, including material resources, time, affection and sharing information. These practices involved family members locally or at a distance, but also non-familial relations, to shape new constellations of care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In examining visa-waiver agreements, previous studies have primarily focused on economic motivations and effects. In this article, we explore the potential political motivations and consequences. Particularly, we propose that there is a positive relationship between visa-waivers and democracy. We test this using a global dataset that records bilateral travel visa requirements for all countries between 1973 and 2013. We find support for our main hypothesis. We also examine the relationship between democracy, visa waivers and economic development. Contrary to our expectations, we find that democracy continues to exert influence on visa waivers even at high levels of income. Non-democracies fail to attain visa waivers even when they are wealthy. Finally, we explore whether visa waivers could have an impact on individuals' attitudes towards democracy. Using survey data from 18 Latin American countries, we find suggestive evidence that that visa-waivers can have a positive impact on individuals' democratic attitudes. Taken together, the findings suggest that democracy and visa-waivers might have a mutually reinforcing relationship. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Travel sanctions are a strategic diplomatic tool that are generally preferred by sanctioning countries to other invasive actions because they can reduce or avoid casualties and losses and achieve policy goals. The present study investigates the relationship between travel sanctions and the number of international tourist arrivals by employing a gravity model from 1995 to 2015. The empirical results reveal that imposing international travel sanctions leads to a decrease in the number of tourist arrivals. Moreover, sanctions between developed countries have more influential effects than those between developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides a comparative analysis of Jihadist foreign fighters who traveled from Australia and Canada to engage in the conflict in Syria and Iraq. Data are provided on the demographics of those who traveled, group affiliations, when and how they traveled, and their social connections. Despite the strong similarities between these societies, significant differences are detected across levels of educational attainment, immediate familial status, and the degree of connection to existing Jihadist networks. The Australian and Canadian foreign fighters also differ, in key respects, from their European counterparts, and even those from the United States. Consideration is given to the possible significance of these differences, as well as the possible return of those currently detained in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We introduce a novel tourism-specific business expectations sentiment index and explore whether it can operate as a leading indicator for international tourist arrivals in Greece. Using monthly data spanning 2002‐2021 and employing a VAR model, we document that this newly introduced tourism-specific business expectations index serves as a leading indicator, whose higher levels foreshadow increased demand for international travel. We also find that its inclusion in a tourism-oriented model increases forecasting accuracy, which can be utilized by travel agent businesses, local government officials, and policymakers in their efforts to predict tourist arrivals in Greece. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first systematic evidence on the impact of Brexit on the business links between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) through the lens of international visits. We find important asymmetry in the direction of changes in business visits between the two regions following the referendum. Specifically, we observe a significant drop in EU‐to‐UK trips, while UK‐to‐EU trips increased noticeably after the vote. These results support the claim that Brexit has made the UK less attractive to EU businesses, but also reveal that UK businesses are investing more in their relationships with EU partners to offset the uncertainty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In examining visa-waiver agreements, previous studies have primarily focused on economic motivations and effects. In this article, we explore the potential political motivations and consequences. Particularly, we propose that there is a positive relationship between visa-waivers and democracy. We test this using a global dataset that records bilateral travel visa requirements for all countries between 1973 and 2013. We find support for our main hypothesis. We also examine the relationship between democracy, visa waivers and economic development. Contrary to our expectations, we find that democracy continues to exert influence on visa waivers even at high levels of income. Non-democracies fail to attain visa waivers even when they are wealthy. Finally, we explore whether visa waivers could have an impact on individuals’ attitudes towards democracy. Using survey data from 18 Latin American countries, we find suggestive evidence that that visa-waivers can have a positive impact on individuals’ democratic attitudes. Taken together, the findings suggest that democracy and visa-waivers might have a mutually reinforcing relationship.

Background: After abandoning the zero-case strategy for COVID-19 in December 2022 in mainland China, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China (HKSAR) has undergone an anticipated surge of the prevalence of COVID-19, as well as other influenzas, such as influenza A/H1N1, influenza A/H3N2, and influenza B as well. Noteworthy, people are usually concerned about the mutual influences between two families of respiratory viruses, like co-circulation or co-infection. Methods: We fitted a unified model to weekly reported severe COVID-19 cases and the confirmed influenza A laboratory cases in HKSAR, respectively, using the R package POMP to obtain the best fitting and parameter estimates. The reconstructed transmission rates of the COVID-19 (/influenza A) versus the weekly reported influenza A (/COVID-19) confirmations between April 2022 and April 2024 were also compared. Results: Our numerical results suggest that influenza confirmations remained either at a very low level or were absent before 2023, while starting from 2023, the influenza epidemic re-emerged as expected because of the resumption of international travels and other social communications. Besides, the peak of influenza cases in April 2023 favored the form of the peak of COVID-19 between May–June, 2023. Additionally, during the sudden abolishment of the zero-case policy in mainland China (December 2022 to January 2023), we estimated that there were approximately 381 cases imported from mainland China into HKSAR. Conclusions: We estimated the potential number of imported COVID-19 severe cases from mainland China to Hong Kong and revealed some potential population-level interference between the two families of respiratory viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are concerns over the impact of the congested international match calendar on professional footballers' physical and mental well-being, and injury susceptibility. This study aimed to determine whether there were differences in match workload and international travel between injured and non-injured male football players over two elite competition seasons. An observational, retrospective, case–control study was conducted using data from the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons of five top-tier European men's football leagues. Student t-tests were used to compare cumulative match workload and international travel data over a 28-day period preceding 1270 injuries and 2540 controls. There were significant differences in match workload and international travel variables between the injured groups (all injuries and hamstring injuries) and the control group. Match workload variables were higher (p < 0.01), recovery variables lower (p < 0.01), and international travel variables higher (p < 0.01). An overload of match workload and international travel contribute to increased injury susceptibility in professional men's football. This emphasizes the need to address international match calendar concerns, including the number of games per season, the frequency of back-to-back games, and international travel requirements. Additionally, the findings highlight the importance of monitoring player match workloads, and implementing squad rotations and tailored training programs to mitigate injury risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major motivation for international travel is to experience cross-cultural interactions. Such interactions may occur outside the typical travel milieus. They can even take place prior to the actual travel to impact travel intentions. This paper focuses on cross-cultural encounters between the members of a community and the diaspora from a potential host destination who live among them. The research investigates the willingness of individuals in the community to travel to the diaspora members' home country for the first time after having established relationships with them. Affect control theory and relational exchange theory are incorporated into a structural equation model to examine these relationships – focusing on natives of India living in the United States. The study identifies individual warmth and trust formed between the Indian diaspora and their American acquaintances as highly significant factors that could impact the latter's travel intentions – that is, the willingness of Americans who have not visited India to consider traveling there to further experience the Indian culture. The study provides insights into sustaining the diaspora communities' cultural identities and underscores their intuitive role as cultural ambassadors outside their countries of origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of bilig: Journal of Social Sciences of the Turkish World is the property of bilig: Journal of Social Sciences of the Turkish World and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Travel intentions are influenced by not only personal background but also external factors such as national disasters, infectious diseases, and government policy. While international flights and the travel market are sharply recovering from the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic, travel risk will affect future travel demand. This study analyzed the relationship between potential risk of destination and travel avoidance intention using the stimulus‐organism‐response (SOR) model. The survey was conducted with 303 Chinese and 253 South Korean respondents living in countries adjacent to Japan. The results reveal that travel avoidance intentions may be influenced by emotional reactions to the complexity of the geopolitical environment or the diverse protection motivation perceptions of travelers. This study proposes that nationality has a moderate effect on tentative travel avoidance intention compared to gender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background International travel exposes individuals to diverse health risks, necessitating proactive pre-travel health preparations. Saudi Arabia has witnessed increased outbound travel. This study addresses a critical gap in knowledge by investigating the utilization and perceptions of pre-travel health consultations among adults in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed patients at the Family and Community Medicine Center of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University during January 2024 to explore perceptions of pre-travel health consultations among the Saudi Arabian population. Adults aged 18 years or older in the waiting area were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Results Of the 772 participants, 624 (80.8%) engaged in international travel within the last year. However, 593 (76.8%) had never sought pre-travel health consultations. Age, gender, and education level significantly influenced the pursuit of pre-travel health advice, with older individuals, females, and those with higher educational attainment more likely to seek consultations. Participants perceived vaccination recommendations (597, 77.4%) and disease prevention information (678, 87.8%) as crucial parts of pre-travel health consultations. However, barriers to seeking advice included perceived low risk (445, 74.8%), lack of awareness (215, 36.3%), time constraints (128, 21.6%), and cost concerns (92, 15.5%). Conclusion The low prevalence of pre-travel health consultations among travelers highlights the need for targeted educational campaigns and the integration of travel health services into primary healthcare. Addressing the identified barriers and leveraging preferred information sources are crucial steps towards enhancing the uptake of pre-travel health consultations, ultimately improving the health and safety of international travelers from the region.

Background: International travel exposes individuals to diverse health risks, necessitating proactive pre-travel health preparations. Saudi Arabia has witnessed increased outbound travel. This study addresses a critical gap in knowledge by investigating the utilization and perceptions of pre-travel health consultations among adults in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study surveyed patients at the Family and Community Medicine Center of Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University during January 2024 to explore perceptions of pre-travel health consultations among the Saudi Arabian population. Adults aged 18 years or older in the waiting area were invited to complete a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Of the 772 participants, 624 (80.8%) engaged in international travel within the last year. However, 593 (76.8%) had never sought pre-travel health consultations. Age, gender, and education level significantly influenced the pursuit of pre-travel health advice, with older individuals, females, and those with higher educational attainment more likely to seek consultations. Participants perceived vaccination recommendations (597, 77.4%) and disease prevention information (678, 87.8%) as crucial parts of pre-travel health consultations. However, barriers to seeking advice included perceived low risk (445, 74.8%), lack of awareness (215, 36.3%), time constraints (128, 21.6%), and cost concerns (92, 15.5%). Conclusion: The low prevalence of pre-travel health consultations among travelers highlights the need for targeted educational campaigns and the integration of travel health services into primary healthcare. Addressing the identified barriers and leveraging preferred information sources are crucial steps towards enhancing the uptake of pre-travel health consultations, ultimately improving the health and safety of international travelers from the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dirofilariasis is an infection caused by the filarial nematode Dirofilaria. Dirofilaria immitis primarily causes pulmonary dirofilariasis, while subcutaneous dirofilariasis is usually caused by Dirofilaria tenuis and Dirofilaria repens but can rarely be caused by Dirofilaria immitis as well. Here we report a rare case where in a 26-year-old with a history of international travel presented with swelling over the nasal dorsum. Following surgical excision, histopathological examination revealed dirofilariasis. Although uncommon, this zoonosis should be taken into consideration as a differential diagnosis of facial swellings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Hungarian Medical Journal / Orvosi Hetilap is the property of Akademiai Kiado and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: One of the few studies to estimate infection risk with SARS-CoV-2 in the general population was the UK Office of National Statistics Infection Survey. This survey provided data that allowed us to describe and interpret apparent risk factors for testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 in a period when variants and COVID-19 controls experienced large changes. Method: The ONS published estimates of likelihood of individuals testing positive in two week monitoring periods between 21st November 2021 and 7th May 2022, relating this positivity to social and behavioural factors. We applied meta-regression to these estimates of likelihood of testing positive to determine whether the monitored potential risk factors remained constant during the pandemic. Results: Some risk factors had consistent relationship with risk of infection (always protective or always linked to higher risk, throughout monitoring period). Other risk factors had variable relationship with risk of infection, with changes seeming to especially correlate with the emergence of Omicron BA.2 dominance. These variable factors were mask-wearing habits, history of foreign travel, household size, working status (retired or not) and contact with children or persons age over 70. Conclusion: Relevance of some risk factors to likelihood of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 may relate to reinfection risk, variant infectiousness and status of social distancing regulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background:Growth of international travel to malarial areas over the last decades has contributed to more travelers taking malaria prophylaxis. Travel-related symptoms may be wrongly attributed to malaria prophylaxis and hinder compliance. Here, we aimed to assess the frequency of real-time reporting of symptoms by travelers following malaria prophylaxis using a smartphone app. Method:Adult international travelers included in this single-center study (Barcelona, Spain) used the smartphone Trip Doctor® app developed by our group for real-time tracking of symptoms and adherence to prophylaxis. Results:Six hundred four (n = 604) international travelers were included in the study; 74.3% (449) used the app daily, and for one-quarter of travelers, malaria prophylaxis was prescribed. Participants from the prophylaxis group traveled more to Africa (86.7% vs. 4.3%; p < 0.01) and to high travel medical risk countries (60.8% vs. 18%; p < 0.01) and reported more immunosuppression (30.8% vs. 23.1% p < 0.01). Regarding symptoms, no significant intergroup differences were observed, and no relationship was found between the total number of malarial pills taken and reported symptoms. Conclusions:In our cohort, the number of symptoms due to malaria prophylaxis was not significantly higher than in participants for whom prophylaxis was not prescribed, and the overall proportion of symptoms is higher compared with other studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The international flight network creates multiple routes by which pathogens can quickly spread across the globe. In the early stages of infectious disease outbreaks, analyses using flight passenger data to identify countries at risk of importing the pathogen are common and can help inform disease control efforts. A challenge faced in this modelling is that the latest aviation statistics (referred to as contemporary data) are typically not immediately available. Therefore, flight patterns from a previous year are often used (referred to as historical data). We explored the suitability of historical data for predicting the spatial spread of emerging epidemics. Methods We analysed monthly flight passenger data from the International Air Transport Association to assess how baseline air travel patterns were affected by outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Zika and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) over the past decade. We then used a stochastic discrete time susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered (SEIR) metapopulation model to simulate the global spread of different pathogens, comparing how epidemic dynamics differed in simulations based on historical and contemporary data. Results We observed local, short-term disruptions to air travel from South Korea and Brazil for the MERS and Zika outbreaks we studied, whereas global and longer-term flight disruptions occurred during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. For outbreak events that were accompanied by local, small and short-term changes in air travel, epidemic models using historical flight data gave similar projections of the timing and locations of disease spread as when using contemporary flight data. However, historical data were less reliable to model the spread of an atypical outbreak such as SARS-CoV-2, in which there were durable and extensive levels of global travel disruption. Conclusion The use of historical flight data as a proxy in epidemic models is an acceptable practice, except in rare, large epidemics that lead to substantial disruptions to international travel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Turkish Journal of History / Tarih Dergisi is the property of Istanbul University, Department of History and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have become one of the most important health problems. We aimed to assess whether international travel may facilitate their spread through the colonization of asymptomatic travelers. A cross-sectional study was conducted (November 2018 to February 2022). Pharyngeal and rectal swabs were obtained from long-term travelers and recently arrived migrants from non-European countries, and an epidemiological survey was performed. Colonization by Gram-negative bacteria and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was determined by chromogenic media and MALDI-TOF-MS. Resistance mechanisms were determined by the biochip-based molecular biology technique. Risk factors for colonization were assessed by logistic regression. In total, 122 participants were included: 59 (48.4%) recently arrived migrants and 63 (51.6%) long-term travelers. After their trip, 14 (11.5%) participants—5 (8.5%) migrants and 9 (14.3%) travelers—had rectal colonization by one MDR bacterium. Escherichia coli carrying the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) CTX-M-15 was the most frequent. No participants were colonized by MRSA or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The only risk factor independently associated with MDR bacterial colonization was previous hospital attention [OR, 95% CI: 10.16 (2.06–50.06)]. The risk of colonization by MDR bacteria among recently arrived migrants and long-term travelers is similar in both groups and independently associated with previous hospital attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The use of molecular methods has led to increased detection of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) in faecal samples. Studies have yielded conflicting results regarding the clinical relevance of this finding. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of EAEC in faecal samples from patients with diarrhoea and healthy controls and describe characteristics of EAEC positive persons. Methods: From March 1st, 2017 to February 28th, 2019, we investigated all consecutive faecal samples from patients with diarrhoea received at the laboratory and collected faecal samples from randomly invited healthy controls from mid-Norway. Real-time multiplex PCR was used for detection of bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens. We registered sex, age, urban versus non-urban residency, and travel history for all participants. Statistical analyses were performed with Pearson chi-squared test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Mann-Whitney U test. Results: We identified EAEC in 440 of 9487 (4.6%) patients with diarrhoea and 8 of 375 (2.2%) healthy controls. The EAEC prevalence was 19.1% among those with diarrhoea and recent foreign travel and 2.2% in those without travel history independent of diarrhoea. Concomitant pathogens were detected in 64.3% of EAEC-positive patients with diarrhoea. The median age was 28.5 in those with EAEC-positive diarrhoea and 38 in those with EAEC-negative diarrhoea (p <0.01). In patients with diarrhoea, travel was reported in 72% of those with EAEC and concomitant pathogens, and 54% and 12% in those with only EAEC and no EAEC, respectively (p <0.01). Conclusions: EAEC was a common detection, particularly in patients with diarrhoea and recent international travel, and was found together with other intestinal pathogens in the majority of cases. Our results suggest that domestically acquired EAEC is not associated with diarrhoea. Patients with EAEC-positive diarrhoea and concomitant pathogens were young and often reported recent travel history compared to other patients with diarrhoea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

International travel has been historically influenced by interest in foreign cultures and environments. Despite its deep roots in curiosity and exploratory behavior, curiosity-driven travel is underrepresented in modern tourism scholarship. Curiosity, vital for exploratory actions, plays a significant role in travelers' behaviors, influencing travel for learning about diverse societies and cultures. This study (1) underscored destination curiosity as the zeal for travel exploration, (2) devised a Destination Curiosity scale using mixed methods, (3) validated the scale's predictive capability concerning cultural identity's impact on visit intentions, and (4) expanded tourism literature, aiding entities in crafting experiences that stimulate curiosity and learning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The mobile lifestyle of digital nomads mingles remote work, international travel, and multi-local living in ways that both submit to and resist state-based mobility regimes. In this article, we examine this apparent paradox by asking how digital nomads move both with the state and against it. Employing the metaphor of 'friction', the analytical lens of 'governmobility' and ethnographic fieldwork with digital nomads, the article illustrates how nomads leverage state-imposed constraints into creative forms of 'border artistry' that allow them to achieve their lifestyle goals in the shadow of the state. At the same time, however, the article suggests that states are also border artists, an argument developed through an analysis of governments' recently established special visa programs. The findings suggest that mobility regimes do not merely determine who can or cannot move, enter, or stay, but rather exercise a kind of governmobility that encourages mobile individuals to discipline themselves according to desirable qualities such as self-sufficiency, consumer citizenship, and depoliticised mobility. In this sense, mobility regimes emerge as the mutual interface between digital nomads' individual strategies to stay on the move and states' institutional strategies to codify and commodify their legal status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the current era of global health awareness for retinoblastoma (RB), the challenge that lies ahead of us is providing optimal care for children affected with RB in underdeveloped nations. The understanding of similarities and disparities between various nations across the world aids in achieving comparable outcomes. With dissolving geographic barriers and evolving collaboration, global collaborative studies on RB are becoming increasingly common. They provide real‐world, robust evidence on several aspects of RB. This review discusses insights gained from global RB studies regarding the demographics, certain aspects of etiopathogenesis and epidemiology, international travel burden, disparities in clinical presentations based on national income levels, management protocols, pathology, treatment outcomes, and the effect of COVID‐19 on RB care across the world. These insights are likely to impact individual practice as well as inform policy reforms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates how tourists develop adaptive perceptions in response to pandemic situations and how these perceptions influence their international travel decision-making toward a COVID-19-shaken destination in the new normal era. The survey was administered to Chinese potential international tourists and 608 questionnaires were utilized in data analysis. The results revealed the indirect effect of COVID-19 risk perception on travel intention first through cognitive image and then through affective image. Cognitive and affective images were identified as mediators of these interrelationships. The findings also showed that COVID-19 displayed varying effects on tourists with different past travel experiences. By unveiling factors influencing individuals' travel decision-making in the new normal era, this study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the psychological and behavioral effects caused by a pandemic; delineating the underlying mechanism of the COVID-19 risk perception effect on international travel decision-making; expanding the research on destination image by clarifying the mediating roles of cognitive and affective images and their relation; providing timely and insightful implications for post-pandemic tourism recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pandemics are affecting tourism in many ways, and have had a major effect on international travel, the hospitality industry and tourism demand. Grounded in the protective action decision model and complexity theory, this study seeks to develop a model to explain the conditions that have led to travel avoidance in the UK in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. To test our proposed model, we used a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of data gathered from 1,290 travelers, with semi-structured interviews conducted to confirm the configurations identified by the model. The findings indicate that effective pandemic information, effective risk communication, supplies, trust in government and trust in the media are necessary to combat travel avoidance, but the refutation of rumor and trust among traveler is not necessary to foster travel avoidance. Furthermore, qualitative follow-up interviews were conducted to obtain deeper insights into the discovered configurations and develop effective pathways to travel avoidance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The increasing prevalence of falsified and counterfeit medicines globally poses risks to international travellers. This narrative literature review examines the global challenge of falsified and counterfeit medicines, with a specific focus on risks for travellers. The aim is to provide a comprehensive understanding of this multidimensional issue, exploring potential solutions for effective intervention. Methods: A comprehensive search of databases, including PubMed, MEDLINE, and Scopus, as well as relevant reports from international organisations, was undertaken. There was a focus on extracting information pertaining to the prevalence, types, and geographical patterns of falsified and counterfeit medicines encountered by international travellers. Synthesising this information helped to identify overarching trends and patterns. This narrative review utilised a thematic analysis approach to synthesise the findings. Results: The findings revealed a diverse range of counterfeit drug categories, spanning from antibiotics to lifestyle medications, posing unique risks to travellers navigating the global pharmaceutical landscape. The review emphasises the geographical distribution of these drugs, with varying consequences for both high- and low-income nations. The inadequate formulations and inconsistent drug release arising from these practices pose severe threats to public health, especially for individuals travelling abroad. The review also highlights the significance of international collaboration in addressing this global challenge, as pharmaceutical supply chains seamlessly cross borders, necessitating a collaborative approach for effective regulation and enforcement. Conclusions: This review underscores the need for targeted research, collaborative interventions, and technological innovations to address the complexities associated with falsified and counterfeit medicines, ensuring the safety and well-being of international travellers.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games were faced with a viral threat, particularly dengue, due to the concentration of populations. Dengue, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), is transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes. The increase in dengue cases in Europe is due to international travel and the proliferation of tiger mosquitoes. Despite prevention measures, no cases of dengue transmission were reported during the Olympics. [Extracted from the article]

This article explores radio's material legacies by exclusively focussing on the trajectories of radio-objects, which travelled between foreign broadcasting stations and their Indian listeners during the Cold War years. The presence of such objects in listeners' homesteads/private collections even today and their affective relationship(s) to them can enable us to examine how radio materially permeated the larger social fabric of listeners' everyday lives, not just through sound but also a plethora of things. Zooming in on gifts, souvenirs, letters, photographs and memorabilia, the article shows how radio-objects enabled Indian listeners to perform difference and distinction locally, to imagine and experience foreign countries through landscape-objects, to establish networks of South-South epistolary exchange, and to 'see' both co-listeners and radio hosts through travelling photographs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Cahiers Victoriens & Edouardiens is the property of Presses Universitaires de la Mediterranee and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

As viruses evolve rapidly, variations in their DNA may arise due to environmental factors. This study examines the classification of COVID-19 DNA sequences based on their country of origin and analyzes their primary correlation with the country's international travel policy. Focusing on DNA sequences from nine ASEAN countries, we conducted a two-class classification to distinguish sequences from individual countries and mixed sequences from others. The sequences were initially dissected into 200 base pair units, and a deep-learning method was employed to construct a model. Our results showcase the capacity to differentiate DNA sequences with varying accuracy for each country. Additionally, the index of international travel policy, which reflects how countries implemented varying levels of restrictions regarding inbound travel, several months before the sequence collection date, moderately correlated with the classification accuracy within each country. This finding suggests a preliminary insight that a country's pandemic management might influence the variation in the DNA virus, determining whether these sequences will evolve distinctly from those of other countries or exhibit similarities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an increasingly interconnected world shaped by globalization, international travel plays a significant role in facilitating the spread of infectious diseases. Travel medicine plays a vital role in preventing and controlling the spread of infectious diseases. This specialized field focuses on providing pre-travel advice, administering necessary vaccinations, promoting preventive measures during travel, and offering post-travel care. Risk assessment is essential to evaluate potential hazards associated with specific destinations. Factors such as disease prevalence, healthcare infrastructure, vaccination requirements, and environmental, as well as cultural influences are considered. Through this process, the risks can be effectively managed by formulating appropriate strategies. Preventive measures are crucial to minimize the transmission of infectious diseases during travel. These include compulsory vaccinations based on destination-specific requirements, recommended travel restrictions when necessary, and quarantine protocols for individuals exhibiting symptoms. Enhanced surveillance efforts combined with the promotion of personal hygiene practices aid further prevention. Educating travelers about safe food handling practices also serves as an effective measure against many infections. Effective pandemic management requires collaboration among countries and international organizations. Travel medicine Professionals work alongside public health authorities to provide accurate information, vaccine administration services, and increased awareness about preventive measures. This collaborative effort facilitates timely response mechanisms ensuring global protection from emerging threats like pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the international travel places that Saudi tourists choose and the elements that impact their decisions and impressions of these locations. This study aims to help tourism stakeholders understand this increasing consumer segment's preferences so they can attract and satisfy them. Semi-structured interviews were implemented with 19 Saudi travellers from a variety of international destinations, employing a qualitative methodology. A three-stage thematic analysis was used to extract important themes from the data, which included variables influencing destination choice, views of destinations, travel activities and experiences, cultural and religious elements, and suggestions for stakeholders. Travel destinations that provide strong cultural and religious accommodations, such as halal cuisine and prayer facilities, are prioritised by Saudi tourists, according to the report. Their impressions and happiness are greatly influenced by varied and high-quality travel experiences. Furthermore, online evaluations and social media have a substantial effect on vacation spot selections. Filling gaps in the literature, this study sheds light on Saudi tourists' demands and preferences. The findings provide destinations real advice on cultural awareness, experience quality, and online reputation management. Tourism stakeholders can use these information to better engage Saudi travellers and satisfy their changing expectations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on a 39-year-old man who presented with fever, chills, headache, and fatigue after returning from a trip to East Africa. It mentions despite negative testing for common viruses, his symptoms progressed, including blurry vision, decreased urine output, and dark urine, leading to an evaluation in the emergency department.

Background: In May 2022, the first interhuman transmissions of monkeypox were detected in places different form the African endemic countries, no related to imported cases and without international travels. In addition, the first declared cases of this outbreak had a different epidemiology than the cases previously described in the literature. Objectives: epidemiological description of the cases diagnosed at Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital; compare the characteristics of our patients with those published by different official organizations; analyze the possible causes of the onset and subsequent decline of the outbreak. Material and methods: retrospective descriptive observational study of the cases of monkeypox treated at Gómez Ulla Central Defense Hospital, from the beginning of the outbreak until November 2022. Results: 23 cases were reported, all male, with a mean age of 34.4. All cases presented rash, in the genital and anal area (69.5 %), face (43.5 %), and upper and lower limbs (30.4 %). In addition, they presented fever (37.5 %) and adenopathies (21.7 %). 91.3 % declared previous risky sexual relations with other men. One patient presented complications that required hospitalization. All cases progressed positively. Conclusions: Our patients present characteristics similar to those published by different official organizations. The action of Public Health has been very important in controlling the outbreak. This outbreak highlights the importance of working along the concept of one health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 crisis has been one of the most significant events in recent history. Informal traders who depend on a thriving tourist market have been especially vulnerable to COVID-19. The resultant travel bans affected South Africa's tourism-related informal economic activities. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the pandemic on informal traders' livelihoods and resilience in Cape Town, South Africa. Tourists have always constituted a large proportion of informal traders' customer base. They are often willing and able to spend more than locals. The impact of travel bans on traders' income, profit margins, and livelihoods has been disastrous. However, many traders have shown commendable resilience. There were obviously limits to the effectiveness of their mitigating strategies. There is an urgent need (from a social justice and a pure economic perspective) for further relief and assistance to supplement street traders' efforts to survive as international tourism recovers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE) have worldwide become increasingly prevalent as pathogens causing urinary tract infections (UTIs), posing challenges in their treatment. Of particular concern are travellers to low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), a substantial proportion of whom become colonized by ESBL-PE, with UTIs as the most common clinical manifestation. Seeking tools for preventing ESBL-PE UTI, we explored factors associated with (i) any UTI (versus control), (ii) ESBL-PE UTI (versus control) and (iii) ESBL-PE versus non-ESBL-PE UTI. Methods During 2015–20, we recruited patients with recent ESBL-PE or non-ESBL-PE UTIs, and controls with no UTI to fill in questionnaires covering potential (ESBL-PE-)UTI risk factors. Results Of our 430 participants, 130 had ESBL-PE UTI and 187 non-ESBL-PE UTI; 113 were controls. Our three comparisons showed several risk factors as exemplified for any UTI versus controls by female sex, lower education, age, diabetes, antibiotic use, diarrhoea; for ESBL-PE UTI versus controls by travel to LMICs, antibiotic use, swimming; and ESBL-PE versus non-ESBL-PE UTI by male sex, higher education, LMIC travel (participant/household member), pets and antibiotic use. Weekly fish meals appeared protective against both UTI and ESBL-PE UTI. Conclusions Of the numerous factors predisposing to UTI and/or ESBL-PE UTI, our study highlights antibiotic use and LMIC travel. Household members' LMIC travel appears to pose a risk of ESBL-PE UTI, pointing to household transmission of travel-acquired uropathogens. As predisposing factors to multidrug-resistant UTI, international travel and antibiotic use constitute practical targets for prevention efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enteric bacterial infections are common among people who travel internationally. During 2017–2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention investigated 41 multistate outbreaks of nontyphoidal Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli linked to international travel. Resistance to one or more antimicrobial agents was detected in at least 10% of isolates in 16 of 30 (53%) nontyphoidal Salmonella outbreaks and 8 of 11 (73%) Shiga toxin-producing E. coli outbreaks evaluated by the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System. At least 10% of the isolates in 14 nontyphoidal Salmonella outbreaks conferred resistance to one or more of the clinically significant antimicrobials used in human medicine. This report describes the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance patterns of these travel-associated multistate outbreaks. Investigating illnesses among returned travellers and collaboration with international partners could result in the implementation of public health interventions to improve hygiene practices and food safety standards and to prevent illness and spread of multidrug-resistant organisms domestically and internationally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]