Epidemiological Characteristics of Infectious Diseases Among Travelers Between China and Foreign Countries Before and During the Early Stage of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Background: International travel during the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic carries a certain magnitude of infection risk both to travelers and their destination, which may be difficult to assess in the early stage. The characteristics of common infectious diseases of tourists may provide some clues to identify the high-risk travelers and protect susceptible population.Methods: From among 48,444 travelers screened at Shanghai Port, we analyzed 577 travelers with 590 infectious diseases for age, sex, disease type, and World Health Organization (WHO) regions. We used the Joinpoint Regression Program to identify the average percent changes (APC) in the various trends among these individuals.Results: Hepatitis B, syphilis, and HIV were the most common infectious diseases in travelers entering China, and Hepatitis B, pulmonary tuberculosis, and syphilis in Chinese nationals traveling abroad (overall detection rates, 1.43 and 0.74%, respectively; P < 0.05). Africa (2.96%), the Americas (1.68%), and the Western Pacific (1.62%) exhibited the highest detection rates. This trend did not decrease since the COVID-19 pandemic (P > 0.05) and rather showed an upward trend with increasing age [APC 95% CI = 5.46 (3.41,7.56)%, P < 0.05]. However, there were no evident trends in monthly infection rates of travelers exiting and entering China from different WHO regions (all P > 0.05).Conclusion: Travelers always carry a transmission risk of common infectious diseases. It may be reasonable to adjust strategies for airport screening and quarantine according to the age and departure area of travelers to prevent and control new infectious diseases.

Visual analysis of the prevention and control measures of COVID-19 in Chinese ports

“…It is hoped that various research institutions and scholars will strengthen cooperation. Based on the epidemiological investigation and medical investigation conducted at the port site, risk warning and passenger health declaration can be strengthened (China 2022 ) to screen high-risk passengers in advance (Luo et al 2021 ), so as to provide a powerful reference for on-site customs officers to carry out accurate quarantine, and provide scientific guidance and technical support for winning the “foreign defense import” port epidemic prevention and control resistance war.…”

High Sensitivity, Rapid Detection of Virus in High Traffic Environments

“…Novel respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 have an established precedent of elevated transmissibility via high-traffic hubs of national or international travel such as airports, train stations, and cruise terminals ( Pavia 2007 ) ( Luo et al, 2021 ). Fueled by its high reproduction number, asymptomatic carriers, superspreading events, increasing socio economic globalization, and an immunologically naive population, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc across the world ( Hu et al, 2020 ).…”

Reconstruction of the origin of the first major SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in Germany

“…Since then, the virus has spread through all continents, and the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a pandemic. While the first SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks occurred in most countries in major cities including Milan [2] , Manchester [3] or Chicago [4] or high-density traffic hubs [5] , [6] , [7] , the first outbreak in Germany happened in Heinsberg , a small relatively unknown town with little to no tourism [8] . After a carnival session where a super-spread occurred, it was reported that about 3.1% of the local population was PCR positive [8] .…”