Newsletter of the International Society of Travel Medicine 2003 January/February CISTM8 Only 4 months away! President’s Letter he International Society of Travel President’s Letter Medicine will hold its 8th regular January 2003 Tconference from May 7th to 11th, meeting in the United States for the first Dear Members, time in twelve years, and for the very first The year 2002 ended with a lot of uncertainties. The economic recession has time in New York City. Complete registra- hit many people, created great doubts about investments and reduced tion information is available on the website, www.istm.org. Participants may consumption. It has also decreased air traffic, and many airlines are facing register on-line, by fax or by mail. Hotel serious identity and economic crises, forcing some of them to restructure. reservations for the conference at the International terrorism is certainly not dead, and we are facing a possible headquarters hotel, the Marriott Marquis, war in the Middle East. in the heart of Times Square, may also be Is economic globalization to blame? Is the economy ruling the world made now. allowing no room for a sound social and political counterbalance to create The program includes not only discus- more long lasting and constructive development trends? Is our planet sions on classic travelers’ ailments such divided between good and bad nations? Can’t we find ways to increase as diarrhea, dengue, and yellow fever, but access to medicine for those who need it the most? will also look at more exotic issues. A ple- We in travel medicine know that globalization also brings good things. nary session will be devoted to extreme Easier access to travel allows people to meet, to discuss, and to discover and adventure travel and will be pre- sented by the medical director of the Ti- each other’s opinions and common interests. The amazing internet revolu- tanic Salvage Expedition. This session will tion permits individuals from all over the world to communicate and have include new prophylaxis and treatment access to information from the most remote places. Can’t this facilitate options in altitude-related illnesses. An mutual understanding instead of radicalization and oversimplification of expert from the King Fahad National the world’s diversity? Continued on page 9 Last October, in Shanghai, we met with Chinese colleagues and saw how dynamic they were in developing their country. By traveling and teaching overseas we discover new situations, other ways of experiencing questions Erratum. In the previous issue of and problems, and attempts to find innovative solutions to them. In the NewsShare, the article Psychological medical field we are in a unique position to make a difference and increase Aspects of Adventure Travel was initially awareness of situations which have to change. Let us see in our own modest posted without the author’s name. The field what we can do. One possibility is to make the travellers we see more author is David Shlim. We apologize for accountable and more responsible when they visit new countries, to make the omission. them respectful of the local people they meet. In New York we will launch a responsible traveller’s initiative to promote this. I would like to see the ISTM generate projects to improve the knowledge and competence of local medical professionals, not only for visiting travelers but also to improve the health of the local population. This can be a constructive contribution CISTM8 Only Four Months Away ... 1 within the modest means we have available. The ISTM board is working President’s Letter ................................ 1 towards this, aware of its responsibility in this rapidly changing world. ISTM Certificate of Knowledge In the mean time, I wish you all a very fruitful and happy new year. May Exam Update .......................................... 2 2003 bring you the joy and achievements you wish for. I am also looking News from Around the World ........ 2 forward to seeing all of you in May in New York. Survival in the Tropical Rain Forests ...................................................... 3 With my very best regards, Hiking the Inca Trail and the Dr. Louis Loutan Porters who Make it Possible ........ 6 President, ISTM Calendar ................................................... 7 Travel Medicine NewsShare 2003 January/February ISTM Certificate of Knowledge News from Around Exam Update the World e’re now four months away from administering Australia – Meningococcal vaccine the first ISTM Certificate of Knowledge exam! Meningococcal C conjugate vaccine has The examination will be given on May 7, 2003, W been added to the Australian National the morning of the opening ceremony of CISTM8. All Immunization Program as of January 1st members should have received a Candidate Bulletin of 2003. The age groups approved for free Information (CBI) and exam application form with member- vaccination initially are the 1 - 5 and 15 - ship renewal packets, which were mailed out in late No- 19 year old groups, with varying catch- vember. If you did not receive a packet or would like a CBI up schedules in different States. The de- and application form, please email you name and postal ad- cision reflects the increasing incidence of dress to [email protected]. morbidity and mortality from the disease Fees for taking the exam and deadlines in which to register are listed below. Please note an in these age groups over the last few years. exam discount will be given to all those sitting for the examination who are also registered Whilst the risk of meningitis for short term for the conference! Physicians sitting for the exam will receive $100 U.S. back. Nurses, travelers to Australia is very low, longer pharmacists, physician assistants and others will receive $50 U.S. back. These payments term travelers should consider vaccina- will be made in cash immediately following the exam with proof of paid conference registra- tion, especially under the age of 25 years tion. Please remember to bring your conference registration receipt with you to the exam- as the incidence is markedly higher in this testing site! age group. Three brands of vaccine ef- fective against type C meningitis are avail- The examination, consisting of 200 single-answer, multiple-choice questions, will be given able (Baxter, Wyeth and Chiron). Travel- on May 7 from 8 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis Hotel. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. ers vaccinated with meningitis C vaccine, Everyone should be seated by 7:30 a.m. for pre-exam instructions. who require vaccination against other Please email any questions you have about the exam to [email protected]. We look forward serotypes should allow 6 months between to seeing you in New York in May! vaccinations. Sincerely, Dr Jonathan Cohen, Medical Director, Travel Clinics Australia, Melbourne. Phyllis Kozarsky on Behalf of the Exam Committee United Kingdom – More travel advice and fewer vaccinations are The fees for taking the ISTM Certificate of Knowledge needed. examination are as follows: The health risks associated with interna- tional travel range from minor symptoms to severe morbidity and death. In ISTM Members on or before January 31, 2003 2000, residents of the United Kingdom Physicians ................................................................................................... $250.00 made 56.8 million visits abroad, 3.3 times Nurses, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Others ................................... $125.00 the number made in 1980. Of all visits abroad, 72% were to countries in the Eu- ISTM Members on or after February 1, 2003 ropean Union and 9% were to North Physicians ................................................................................................... $300.00 America. Nurses, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Others ................................... $175.00 Hand in hand with an increase in travel we can expect a similar increase in travel Non-Members on or before January 31, 2003 related morbidity, and therefore a need for Physicians ................................................................................................... $300.00 effective, accessible, and appropriate pre- Nurses, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Others ................................... $175.00 travel health advice. We were encouraged by the recognition of travel medicine as Non-Members on or after February 1, 2003 animportant role of the United Kingdom’s public health service. We were, however, Physicians ................................................................................................... $350.00 disappointed at the review’s emphasis on Nurses, Pharmacists, Physician Assistants, Others ................................... $225.00 Continued on page 3 2 Newsletter of the International Society of Travel Medicine © 2003 ISTM Travel Medicine NewsShare 2003 January/February “News from Around the World,” continued from page 2 Survival in Tropical Rain Forests vaccine preventable disease, including by Mel Otten, MD hepatitis A (81 cases in 2000), which from surveillance data provided by the Public ropical rain forests cover large but ever shrinking areas in the Americas, Africa and Health Laboratory Service shows a fall in Asia between latitude 25° North and 25° South. These forests have greater than cases over the 20 year period. Likewise, T250 centimeters or 100 inches of rain per year, with the rain fairly evenly distributed the number of cases of imported malaria throughout the year. (By comparison, deserts have less than 25 centimeters