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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
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.

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.

References

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