Journal of Travel Medicine
Volume 17, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 163-170

The visiting friends or relatives traveler in the 21st century: Time for a new definition (Article) (Open Access)

Barnett E.D. , MacPherson D.W. , Stauffer W.M. , Loutan L. , Hatz C.F. , Matteelli A. , Behrens R.H.
  • a Maxwell Finland Laboratory for Infectious Diseases, Boston Medical Center, 670 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118, United States
  • b Migration Health Consultants Inc., Cheltenham, ON, Canada, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
  • c Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, Infection Diseases and International Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
  • d Division of International and Humanitarian Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
  • e Medical Department, Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland, Division of Communicable Diseases, Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
  • f Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
  • g Hospital for Tropical Diseases, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom

Abstract

Background. Travelers visiting friends or relatives (VFR travelers) are a group identified with an increased risk of travel-related illness. Changes in global mobility, travel patterns, and inter-regional travel led to reappraisal of the classic definition of the term VFR. Methods. The peer-reviewed literature was accessed through electronic searchable sites (PubMed/Medline, ProMED, GeoSentinel, TropNetEurop, Eurosurveillance) using standard search strategies for the literature related to visiting friends/relatives, determinants of health, and travel. We reviewed the historic and current use of the definition of VFR traveler in the context of changes in population dynamics and mobility. Results. The term "VFR" is used in different ways in the literature making it difficult to assess and compare clinical and research findings. The classic definition of VFR is no longer adequate in light of an increasingly dynamic and mobile world population. Conclusions. We propose broadening the definition of VFR travelers to include those whose primary purpose of travel is to visit friends or relatives and for whom there is a gradient of epidemiologic risk between home and destination, regardless of race, ethnicity, or administrative/legal status (eg, immigrant). The evolution and application of this proposed definition and an approach to risk assessment for VFR travelers are discussed. © 2010 International Society of Travel Medicine.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

genetics immigrant public health service risk Population Dynamics human friend risk assessment travel medical research peer review visiting friends or relatives traveler United States social status family Humans male environmental factor female risk factor Behavior communicable disease control Article disease transmission infection control migration Friends Emigration and Immigration Terminology as Topic nomenclature relative population migration miscellaneous named groups public health
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-77951248370&doi=10.1111%2fj.1708-8305.2010.00411.x&partnerID=40&md5=b5dd102c77df61b4d1387e880bf61fad
DOI: 10.1111/j.1708-8305.2010.00411.x
ISSN: 11951982
Cited by: 53
Original Language: English