Travel-associated infections
International travellers and migrants can bring infections into Australia, highlighting the need for strong disease surveillance systems. The COVID-19 pandemic showed how quickly infections can spread through global travel, making it even more important to improve communication about vaccines and increase their use among travellers and migrants.
Travellers can also serve as "sentinels" for disease activity, drawing attention to outbreaks in countries with limited testing when they return to nations with better surveillance systems. To prevent health risks in travellers and migrants, there is a need for research to improve risks assessments, screening practices, and preventive measures.
The Infectious Diseases Epidemiology Unit is involved in establishing and monitoring nation-wide infectious disease surveillance systems and studying the impact of infections both at home and abroad. We also collaborate with social scientists, immunisation experts and health consumers interested in overseas travel to develop strategies for increasing vaccination uptake among international travellers.
