Travel Unravelled

Journey back with us nearly 40 years ago , when travel medicine was but a sparkle in a few physicians' eyes — and discover how a handful of visionary health professionals built a global medical field.  In this special episode of Travel Unravelled, host Dr. Aisha Khatib and ISTM president Dr. Anne McCarthy sit down with ISTM foundational members Robert Steffen, Herbert DuPont, Phyllis Kozarsky and...

With names like leishmaniasis, myiasis, new world screwworm and gnathostomiasis, parasitic infections can be absolutely the worst souvenir to bring back from any trip. They all come from unwanted hitchhikers that can return with travellers after they explore distant and not-so-distant destinations, turning even the most idyllic trip into a nightmare. So, how can travellers avoid bringing back unwa...

Travel insurance is often an afterthought in trip planning. Some travellers skip it altogether. Others buy it without really knowing what they're covered for — or how it works when things go wrong. But when the unexpected happens — like a scooter crash in Bali, a flare-up of a chronic condition in Peru, or an illness in a remote location — travel insurance can be the key to accessing timely medica...

Family travel is on an upward trend. A 2023 study from the Family Travel Association found that 81% of parents are "very likely" to explore the world with their children over the next 12 months. So what does it take to plan a safe and healthy trip with kids? Expert pediatricians Dr. Mike Starr and Dr. Sheila Mackell join the Travel Unravelled podcast to provide guidance. Dr. Starr is a general ped...

Approximately 50,000 people attempt to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro every year, making Africa's highest peak one of the most popular climbing destinations in the world. But despite the many ambitious climbers , only 60% actually make it to the top. That's likely because many climbers, regardless of age, experience, and fitness level, will face something far more elusive: altitude sickness...

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 5 million snakebites occur each year , with between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths. A fear of snakes is common. It doesn't help that snakes have long been cast as villains: In Raiders of the Lost Ark, a deadly cobra lurks in an ancient Egyptian temple. In Greek mythology, Medusa's snake mane is her ultimate weapon. And in real life, White Lotus star Wa...

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. ...

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...

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...

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. Schlage...

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 di...

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,...

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, inclu...

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 fa...

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...

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...