Summary
More than 200 of the documented zoonoses represent a high proportion
of the infectious diseases that cause cases of morbidity and mortality
and almost 75% are emerging infections. Immigration and tourism
are human activities that are included in the broader field of human
migration and travel. Travel plays a significant role in the emergence
and spread of disease. The migration of humans has provided the
route of spread for infectious diseases and zoonoses (for example,
plague, yellow fever, monkey pox and severe acute respiratory syndrome).
Tourism constitutes a small fraction of overall movements of humans
but a point worthy of note is the number of international travellers
has increased by more than 1 300% over the last 50 years. In addition,
over 80 million people, mostly from developing countries, are legal
or illegal immigrants. The consequences of travel extend beyond
the traveller to the population visited and the ecosystem. Tourism
and immigration may constitute an interface for mixing different
genetic and ecological profiles, as well as cultural and social
aspects, which is of particular interest in regard to zoonoses.
Primary prevention, epidemiological surveillance and health education
in the framework of intersectoral and international collaboration
remain the cornerstone for response to and control of zoonoses in
the context of tourism and immigration.
Keywords
Disease,
Health, Immigration, Public health, Tourism, Travel, Zoonosis.
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