[Imported diseases by immigrants and travellers: results from the Cooperative Network for the study of Imported Diseases by Immigrants and Travellers +Redivi].

INTRODUCTION

Imported diseases by travellers and immigrants are a priority in the prevention of emerging infectious diseases in the 21st century. There are international records on imported diseases, but no such records are available in Spain.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The cooperative network +Redivi was created in 2009 and consists of 11 national healthcare centres. +Redivi collects demographic data relating to travel/migration and infectious diseases in brief, computerised forms.

RESULTS

From January 2009 to October 2011, we collected 4,570 patients and recorded the main demographic data (age, sex, presence of immunosuppression), travel data (destination, duration, time between the return trip and the consultation) and data regarding the migratory process (country of origin, time between the arrival in Spain and the first consultation), as well as preventive measures that have been taken (pre-travel advice, need for malaria chemoprophylaxis, drug that was used and whether it was correct), the reason for coming to the consultation, and final diagnoses of the travellers, immigrants and immigrants-travellers. Likewise, the most frequent diagnoses of asymptomatic patients who came for a check-up are described for each of the three groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The +Redivi network allows us to identify and quantify the geographical origin and the type of patients affected, as well as time pattern of infections imported by migrants and travellers. Preliminary data show the significant presence of transmissible diseases and the potential reintroduction in Spain, as well as the importance of systematic screening in patients that came from tropical areas. The objective of +Redivi is to evaluate the impact of imported diseases in Spain in order to contribute to improving the care of patients, to have an influence on prevention and treatment of the most prevalent imported diseases, and to detect possible outbreaks.