Etiologies of acute febrile illness among hospitalized patients: A retrospective hospital-based study in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Background: Acute febrile illness (AFI) is a major cause of hospitalization in tropical regions. While it is often initially diagnosed as malaria in Africa, its specific causes in Somalia remain largely unknown. This study aimed to identify the etiology and clinical outcomes of AFI among hospitalized adults in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Travel-related potential rabid animal post-exposure consultation at the Thai Travel Clinic, Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Bangkok, Thailand.

Background: Rabies exposure remains a significant public health concern in South and Southeast Asia. Despite the disease being vaccine-preventable, international travelers remain at risk of rabies infection due to the limited access to vaccines and immunoglobulin. This retrospective review aims to analyze post-exposure rabies consultations at the Thai Travel Clinic providing insights into epidemiology, risk factors, and post-exposure management for international travelers.

Temporal correlations between RBD-ACE2 blocking and binding antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants in CoronaVac-vaccinated individuals and their persistence in COVID-19 patients.

Antibodies play a crucial role in protection against SARS-CoV-2. Understanding the correlation between binding and functional antibodies is essential to determine whether binding antibody levels can reliably predict neutralizing activity. We assessed antibody responses in 111 individuals vaccinated with the inactivated vaccine CoronaVac and 111 COVID-19 patients in Thailand.

Characteristics and morbidity patterns of last-minute travelers in Thailand.

Background: Last-minute travelers (LMTs) present significant challenges for travel health services and are considered vulnerable due to their lack of health preparation. However, there is a lack of data to support this assumption.

Methods: The proportion of LMTs was investigated through a cross-sectional study involving all Thai travelers who visited the Thai Travel Clinic before their departure abroad.

Epidemiologic trends and clinical outcomes of imported malaria in a tertiary care hospital, Bangkok, Thailand: A retrospective analysis (2013-2022).

Background: Despite a significant declined in malaria incidence in Thailand, the rising global travel has resulted in an increase of imported malaria cases, posing a threat to the goal of malaria elimination. This study aims to understand the epidemiological trends and clinical outcomes of imported malaria cases in Thailand.

Methods: Medical records of all imported malaria cases admitted from 1 January 2013 to 31 December 2022 at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Thailand, were retrospectively examined.

Seroprevalence of dengue, Japanese encephalitis and Zika among long-term expatriates in Thailand.

Background: Travel to Southeast Asia increases the likelihood of acquiring mosquito-borne Flavivirus infections such as dengue (DENV), Japanese encephalitis (JEV) and Zika viruses (ZIKV). Expatriates are long-term travellers who have a higher risk of mosquito-borne illness at their destination country. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of DENV, JEV and ZIKV infections and the determinants contributing to seropositivity among expatriates living in Thailand.

Recreational substance use among international travellers.

Background: Drug tourism reflects the expanding illicit drug market, posing health risks in unfamiliar travel settings. Existing knowledge specifically addressing substance use among international travellers is sparse and has not been reviewed to date. This review aimed to describe the recreational substance abuse in international travellers.

Diagnostic challenges and antibody kinetics in a paediatric traveller with scrub typhus.

Diagnosing scrub typhus in travellers is challenging due to symptom similarities with other travel-related illnesses and limited early diagnostic tools. We present a distinctive case of scrub typhus in a child traveller, providing a comprehensive account of the case, the diagnostic challenges encountered, laboratory findings and the dynamics of antibodies.

Gametocyte prevalence and risk factors of P. falciparum malaria patients admitted at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases, Thailand: a 20-year retrospective study.

Background: The incidence of malaria in Thailand has dramatically declined over the past two decades, and the goal is to eliminate malaria by 2025. Despite significant progress, one of the key challenges to malaria elimination are undetected gametocyte carriers. Human migration adds complexity to the malaria situation, as it not only sustains local transmission but also poses the risk of spreading drug-resistant parasites.

Prevalence of hypertension among travelers and stability of blood pressure control during travel: a cross-sectional descriptive study and prospective cohort study.

Background: Hypertension is a common and important risk factor for cardiovascular disease which is the leading cause of death among the general population and travelers. Data on hypertension among travelers are very limited due to the scarcity of research reports in this specific population. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension among adult travelers and the stability of blood pressure control during international trips using a mobile automated blood pressure device.

The silent, rapidly unfolding threat of mpox spread via international travel to Southeast Asia: Are we ready?

The 2022 mpox (monkeypox) outbreak has been surprisingly large and has raised several novel questions about this disease. New information, such as atypical clinical manifestations and transmission via sexual activities, have been identified. These pose a potential risk of widespread outbreaks due to unusual clinical manifestations and failure to consider mpox as a diagnosis by physicians and the sexual behaviours of some tourists in Southeast Asia.