Travel in the Time of COVID: A Review of International Travel Health in a Global Pandemic

doi:10.1007/s11908-022-00784-3

Review

. 2022;24(10):129-145.

doi: 10.1007/s11908-022-00784-3. Epub 2022 Aug 4.

Travel in the Time of COVID: A Review of International Travel Health in a Global Pandemic

Gerard T Flaherty^{1

2}, Davidson H Hamer^{3

4

5

6}, Lin H Chen^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
² School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA.
⁴ Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA.
⁵ Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Boston University, Boston, MA USA.
⁶ National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, MA USA.
⁷ Division of Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA USA.
⁸ Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA.

PMID: 35965881
PMCID: PMC9361911
DOI: 10.1007/s11908-022-00784-3

Review

Travel in the Time of COVID: A Review of International Travel Health in a Global Pandemic

Gerard T Flaherty et al. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2022.

. 2022;24(10):129-145.

doi: 10.1007/s11908-022-00784-3. Epub 2022 Aug 4.

Authors

Gerard T Flaherty^{1

2}, Davidson H Hamer^{3

4

5

6}, Lin H Chen^{7

8}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland.
² School of Medicine, International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
³ Department of Global Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA USA.
⁴ Section of Infectious Diseases, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA.
⁵ Center for Emerging Infectious Disease Research and Policy, Boston University, Boston, MA USA.
⁶ National Emerging Infectious Disease Laboratory, Boston University, Boston, MA USA.
⁷ Division of Infectious Diseases and Travel Medicine, Mount Auburn Hospital, Cambridge, MA USA.
⁸ Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA.

PMID: 35965881
PMCID: PMC9361911
DOI: 10.1007/s11908-022-00784-3

Abstract

Purpose of review: This review critically considers the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on global travel and the practice of travel medicine, highlights key innovations that have facilitated the resumption of travel, and anticipates how travel medicine providers should prepare for the future of international travel.

Recent findings: Since asymptomatic transmission of the virus was first recognized in March 2020, extensive efforts have been made to characterize the pattern and dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 transmission aboard commercial aircraft, cruise ships, rail and bus transport, and in mass gatherings and quarantine facilities. Despite the negative impact of further waves of COVID-19 driven by the more transmissible Omicron variant, rapid increases of international tourist arrivals are occurring and modeling anticipates further growth. Mitigation of spread requires an integrated approach that combines masking, physical distancing, improving ventilation, testing, and quarantine. Vaccines and therapeutics have played a significant role in reopening society and accelerating the resumption of travel and further therapeutic innovation is likely.

Summary: COVID-19 is likely to persist as an endemic infection, and surveillance will assume an even more important role. The pandemic has provided an impetus to advance technology for telemedicine, to adopt mobile devices and GPS in contact tracing, and to apply digital applications in research. The future of travel medicine should continue to harness these novel platforms in the clinical, research, and educational arenas.

Keywords: Health passport; Quarantine; SARS-CoV-2; Sustainable travel; Testing; Transmission; Transport; Travel medicine; Vaccine.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestDr. Flaherty has received conference registration support as an Executive Board member of the Travel Medicine Society of Ireland (former) and International Society of Travel Medicine (current). Dr. Chen reports honoraria from Shoreland Inc, Valneva, Takeda, Sanofi-Pasteur, Emergent BioSolutions, and Merck. Dr. Hamer reports consulting fees and honoraria from Xenophon Strategies, Inc., Trinity Biotech, LLC, Equinox, Major League Soccer, PGA of America, Valneva, and Takeda.

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References

1. World Tourism Organization. International tourism highlights, 2020 edition. UNWTO, Madrid. 2021. 10.18111/9789284422456.
1. Wilson ME, Chen LH. Travelers give wings to novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) J Travel Med. 2020;27(2):1–3. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa015. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. Chen LH, Freedman DO, Visser LG. COVID-19 immunity passport to ease travel restrictions? J Travel Med. 2020 doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa085. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
1. •• Wilson ME, Chen LH. Re-starting travel in the era of COVID-19: preparing anew. J Travel Med 2020;27(5):taaa108. Practical guidance for travel medicine practitioners regarding the assessment of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 in the pre-travel consultation. - PMC - PubMed
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[1] World Tourism Organization. International tourism highlights, 2020 edition. UNWTO, Madrid. 2021. 10.18111/9789284422456.

[2] World Tourism Organization. International tourism highlights, 2020 edition. UNWTO, Madrid. 2021. 10.18111/9789284422456.

[3] Wilson ME, Chen LH. Travelers give wings to novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) J Travel Med. 2020;27(2):1–3. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa015. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[4] Wilson ME, Chen LH. Travelers give wings to novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) J Travel Med. 2020;27(2):1–3. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa015. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[5] Chen LH, Freedman DO, Visser LG. COVID-19 immunity passport to ease travel restrictions? J Travel Med. 2020 doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa085. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[6] Chen LH, Freedman DO, Visser LG. COVID-19 immunity passport to ease travel restrictions? J Travel Med. 2020 doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa085. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[7] •• Wilson ME, Chen LH. Re-starting travel in the era of COVID-19: preparing anew. J Travel Med 2020;27(5):taaa108. Practical guidance for travel medicine practitioners regarding the assessment of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 in the pre-travel consultation. - PMC - PubMed

[8] •• Wilson ME, Chen LH. Re-starting travel in the era of COVID-19: preparing anew. J Travel Med 2020;27(5):taaa108. Practical guidance for travel medicine practitioners regarding the assessment of the risk of SARS-CoV-2 in the pre-travel consultation. - PMC - PubMed

[9] Chen LH, Steffen R. SARS-CoV-2 testing to assure safety in air travel. J Travel Med. 2021;28(2):taaa241. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa241. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[10] Chen LH, Steffen R. SARS-CoV-2 testing to assure safety in air travel. J Travel Med. 2021;28(2):taaa241. doi: 10.1093/jtm/taaa241. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

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Travel in the Time of COVID: A Review of International Travel Health in a Global Pandemic

Affiliations

Travel in the Time of COVID: A Review of International Travel Health in a Global Pandemic

Authors

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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