Travel Unravelled (ISTM)
Explorez tous les épisodes de Travel Unravelled
| Date | Titre | Durée | |
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| 08 Apr 2025 | The Traveller’s Shield: Every Vaccine Is a Travel Vaccine | 00:51:57 | |
For the first episode of Travel Unravelled season 2, our team of experts—Dr. Anne McCarthy, Dr. Albie de Frey, Dr. Sarah McGuinness and Dr. Aisha Khatib—encourage us to reframe the way we think about vaccines and travel health. Getting vaccinated before travel shouldn’t be just for “exotic” trips or the wealthy—it’s essential for everyone. In our connected world, travel health is global health. The topic has never been more relevant. Right now, measles is resurging in the U.S., Canada and Europe, polio is being detected in wastewater in multiple countries, and mpox cases are re-emerging with new variants. Influenza is spreading year-round in the tropics, and outbreaks are following international travellers. Whether you're heading to Bali, Barcelona, or Boston, the diseases of the world don’t respect borders—and vaccines can build the protection you need. So what if we saw all vaccines as travel vaccines? And used any healthcare visit by a traveller as a chance for public health interventions? No matter how “safe” your home country feels, vaccinations are crucial in protecting the health of our global community. Tune in to learn more. LINKS
DISCUSSION POINTS
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| 07 Oct 2024 | The ITIT App: Illness Tracking in Travellers | 00:08:59 | |
In a mini episode meant to complement our previous “travellers as sentinels for disease” show, ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib interviews Prof. Patricia Schlagenhauf, the GeoSentinel Site Director in Zürich, the director of EuroTravNet as well as the Head of the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Travellers' Health. As a professor at the University of Zürich, Prof. Schlagenhauf has led the development of the free ITIT app, an illness tracking platform meant for travellers available on both iOS and Android phones. The effort is meant to provide grass-roots, bottom-up support from travellers themselves to inform illness tracking efforts by public health authorities around the world.
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KEY MOMENTS 00:09 Show introduction 00:15 Dr. Aisha Khatib introduces the podcast and the guest, Professor Schlagenhauf 00:57 Professor Schlagenhauf explains the purpose of the ITIT app 01:46 Dr. Aisha Khatib asks about the ITIT app, including where to find it and how to sign up 02:26 Professor Schlagenhauf discusses the ITIT app as a public health asset 02:34 Dr. Aisha Khatib highlights the ITIT app as a way for travellers to contribute to research and surveillance 02:53 Dr. Aisha Khatib emphasizes the app's benefits for travellers 02:59 Dr. Aisha Khatib asks what incentives travellers may have to use the ITIT app 03:48 Professor Schlagenhauf discusses the various features and incentives of the ITIT app 03:58 Dr. Aisha Khatib asks about the availability of the ITIT app for download 04:54 Professor Schlagenhauf highlights the "my ITIT health diary" feature of the app 05:21 Dr. Aisha Khatib asks Professor Schlagenhauf about her favorite area of interest in travel medicine 05:56 Professor Schlagenhauf discusses her interest in malaria and travelers 06:11 Professor Schlagenhauf mentions the potential for data collection and analysis using the ITIT app 06:41 Dr. Aisha Khatib encourages listeners to download and use the ITIT app | |||
| 03 Sep 2024 | The Tale of Two Travellers—How Travellers Can Be Sentinels for Disease | 00:42:14 | |
Recent history has taught us that travellers can spread diseases without knowing it—but what if these travellers can help to prevent outbreaks before they spread? In fact, public health authorities and the ISTM have formed networks, such as the CDC-affiliated GeoSentinel and the UK’s National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC), that use information from travellers to track the spread of disease around the world. In this episode, GeoSentinel cofounder Dr. David O. Freedman, and NaTHNaC director Dr. Dipti Patel, OBE, join Dr. Anne McCarthy, President-Elect of the ISTM, and Dr. Albie de Frey, CEO of Travel Doctor Corporate, along with ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib. The group looks back at tales of significant health outbreaks and discusses what measures could have been taken to prevent worldwide domino effects. They also provide tips for travellers preparing for trips, and advice on what to do if a traveller returns from a trip with symptoms of illness. It’s an episode full of practical steps designed to prevent further public health outbreaks, one traveller at a time. LINKS
KEY MOMENTS 00:00 Introduction of guests Dr. David O. Freedman, Dr. Dipti Patel, Dr. Albie De Frey, and Dr. Anne McCarthy, and overview of travellers as sentinels for disease prevention. 01:12 Dr. Dipti Patel explains NaTHNaC's role in providing travel health advice to UK travellers, including using surveillance data to inform vaccination recommendations. 04:30 Discussion of how NaTHNaC uses enhanced surveillance to identify trends and risks for UK travellers, and how they responded to the 2014 chikungunya outbreak in the Caribbean. 09:27 Dr. Albie De Frey and others discuss the importance of networking and personal connections in the travel medicine community to share information and support travellers. 13:19 Dr. David O. explains the origins and purpose of the GeoSentinel network, which uses travellers as "sentinels" to detect emerging diseases. 17:36 Dr. David O. Freedman describes a 2000 incident where GeoSentinel quickly identified an outbreak of leptospirosis in travellers returning from Borneo. 24:32 Dr. Dipti Patel and Dr. Albie De Frey provide additional examples of how surveillance data can identify disease trends and emerging threats, like African sleeping sickness and Zika. 29:51 Discussion of the importance of travellers disclosing their travel history to healthcare providers, and the role of travel medicine practitioners in aiding public health. 34:06 Take home messages for listeners, including both travellers and clinicians, from Dr. David O. Freedman, Dr. Dipti Patel and our hosts. 40:59 Wrap up, concluding remarks, resources, and disclaimers. Travel Unravelled is produced by Ghost Bureau. | |||
| 20 Aug 2024 | Human toxoplasmosis from swimming with the Amazon’s pink dolphins? | 00:18:38 | |
ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib and digital communications lead Dr. Sarah McGuinness discuss a strange medical case drawn from the pages of the Journal of Travel Medicine. Approximately two billion people around the world are afflicted with toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease that typically results from exposure to cat feces. Most of those infected don't have any symptoms, but in some cases, the disease can cause muscle aches, fever and swollen glands. So is it possible that the Brazilian traveller contracted toxoplasmosis from the pink dolphins of the Amazon river? (A mini episode.) LINKS The Journal of Travel Medicine article: “Human toxoplasmosis as a result of swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon river?” By Sylvia Lemos Hinrichsen, PhD, Tatiana Aguiar Santos Vilella, MSc, Reginaldo Gonçalves Lima Neto, PhD The episode web page at ISTM features supplementary pics of Drs. Aisha Khatib and Sarah McGuiness in the Amazon. Travel Unravelled is sponsored by IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers. KEY MOMENTS 00:00 Introduction 00:10 Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Sarah McGuinness introduce the topic of toxoplasmosis. 02:01 Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Sarah McGuinness discuss their own experiences swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon River. 03:10 Explanation of what toxoplasmosis is—a zoonotic disease caused by a parasite that can infect warm-blooded animals, including humans. 04:31 Discussion of how toxoplasmosis is typically transmitted, including through contact with cat feces and eating undercooked meat. 05:57 Uncertainty around how the traveller in the case report contracted toxoplasmosis from swimming with pink dolphins in the Amazon. 08:04 Overview of the main transmission routes for toxoplasmosis that travellers should be aware of, including contact with cat feces, eating undercooked meat, and swimming in contaminated water. 11:21 Advice on testing and treatment for toxoplasmosis, particularly for pregnant women and those with weakened immune systems. 13:04 Key takeaways on the importance of good hygiene practices and being aware of potential disease risks when travelling. | |||
| 25 Mar 2024 | Travel Unravelled Trailer | 00:01:06 | |
Travel Unravelled: an ISTM Podcast explores the latest developments, challenges and innovations in travel health and medicine. Join ISTM President-Elect Dr. Anne McCarthy, Travel Doctor Corporate CEO Dr. Albie De Frey and ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib as they chat with experts around the world and give you practical tips for your next adventure. Whether you’re a seasoned traveller or just starting to plan your first international trip, Travel Unravelled is your personal guide to staying healthy while exploring the world—without taking up any room in your suitcase. | |||
| 18 Apr 2024 | Malaria for Travellers: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention | 00:52:57 | |
The most dangerous animal in the world is not the shark or the tiger. It won’t stalk you on safari or attack you as you surf. Tiny but mighty, the mosquito kills more people than any other animal in the world. Why? Because it transmits deadly diseases to humans, such as malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever. Malaria causes more than 600,000 deaths every year—all of which are preventable. In the first episode of Travel Unravelled, Dr. Anne McCarthy and Dr. Albie de Frey dive into the essential facts about malaria. On the agenda: How to avoid getting malaria, how to prepare before a trip, and what to do if you feel sick in a malaria area. Plus: Why malaria is so tough to diagnose. It’s the Battle of the Buzz, and listening to this podcast is your best repellent! Links & Mentions
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| 21 Jan 2025 | Pioneers in Travel Medicine: The History of IAMAT | 00:41:17 | |
Today, IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers, is a great resource, providing up-to-date information and guidance for globetrotters. But pre-internet, how did healthcare providers warn neighbouring countries about infectious disease? How did travellers properly educate themselves on the necessary precautions before visiting high-risk areas? What did travellers do if the doctor in the destination country didn't speak the same language? As one of the founders of travel medicine, Dr. Vincenzo Marcolongo established IAMAT in 1960, and dedicated the organization to helping both healthcare providers and travellers access the best possible care, wherever they may be in the world. When Dr. Marcolongo died in 1988, his wife, Assunta Uffer-Marcolongo, took over and continued the work of protecting travellers from infectious disease. In this special episode of the ISTM podcast, our team visits Assunta Uffer-Marcolongo in Toronto to provide our audience with an exclusive look at the evolution of travel medicine from a key participant in its early years, including rare looks at some of the first infectious disease maps, drawings, and questionnaires that shaped how we treat infectious disease today. LINKS
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| 18 Jul 2024 | Journey to Wellness: The Health Benefits of Travel | 00:41:39 | |
What are the benefits of travel? Can a trip to a distant destination really improve your health? And how is it possible to engage in responsible travel? In this episode sponsored by IAMAT, the International Association for Medical Assistance to Travellers, we delve into the myriad benefits of travelling. For example, few people know that those who travel experience lower risk of many issues, including heart disease and burnout. Travel also creates economic and cultural benefits. Join Dr. Anne McCarthy, Dr. Aisha Khatib, and new Travel Unravelled voices Dr. Sarah McGuinness, the ISTM digital communications lead, and ISTM president Dr. Gerard Flaherty as they describe the argument for travel — and how it can positively impact your life and the world around you.
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| 16 May 2024 | Rage on the Road: Rabies, Risk and Travellers | 00:55:16 | |
Thought to be the inspiration behind legends like the vampire and the werewolf, the rabies virus poses a serious risk for travellers around the world. In the second episode of Travel Unravelled, hosts Dr. Anne McCarthy and Dr. Albie de Frey sink their teeth into all things rabies with podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib. Discover the insidious nature of rabies, why it's considered one of the most fatal diseases in existence, how you can protect yourself before travelling to rabies-prone regions — and what to do if you get exposed to the virus from an animal bite. Featuring interviews with such rabies experts as the deputy director of South Africa’s National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Dr. Lucille Blumberg, and the medical director of Belgium’s Institute of Tropical Medicine, Dr. Patrick Soentjens, our second episode chronicles the evolution of rabies prevention recommendations, from vaccine developer Louis Pasteur to the state of the art today. LINKS
CLINICAL PEARL
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| 12 Nov 2024 | Dengue, Chikungunya and Risks for Travellers: What's the Buzz | 00:52:24 | |
Arboviruses are a category of viral disease spread by mosquitoes, sandflies or ticks. They include dengue and chikungunya, both of which are surging globally — appearing not just in tropical areas, but also in places like Europe and North America. This is a serious concern for everyone, including travellers visiting at-risk areas and the communities that could face outbreaks if these diseases are brought home. In this episode, our guests and the ISTM podcast team discuss what's driving these changes, including climate change and the role travellers play in spreading these viruses. Our guests also share vital information about new vaccines, like Qdenga and Ixchiq, and how they might benefit travellers as their availability increases. Guests in this episode include Dr. Ralph Huits and Dr. Susan Hills. Dr. Huits is an infectious disease physician and senior researcher at the Sacro Cuore Don Calabria Hospital in Negrar, Italy, as well as a Co-Principal Investigator of GeoSentinel (Research lead), the emerging infectious diseases network of the International Society of Travel Medicine and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dr. Susan Hills is a medical epidemiologist in the Arboviral Diseases Branch at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Fort Collins, Colorado. She currently leads the US Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Work Group drafting recommendations for use of new chikungunya vaccines in the United States. This episode of the ISTM podcast was directed by digital communications lead Dr. Sarah McGuinness with support from ISTM president-elect Dr. Anne McCarthy, ISTM podcast director Dr. Aisha Khatib and Dr. Albie de Frey, CEO of Travel Doctor Corporate. With practical tips for staying safe during your travels and insights into efforts to control these diseases, the episode is a must-listen for anyone planning to travel or interested in travel health. LINKS
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