We have identified you may not be viewing TRAVAX optimally because the browser you are using is unsupported - click here.
We have identified you may not be viewing TRAVAX optimally because the browser you are using is unsupported - click here.
In early July 2015, the Netherlands reported two cases of louse-borne relapsing fever (LBRF) asylum seekers from Eritrea. This disease is very uncommon among tourists and short-term travellers but may occur in the European Union among migrants from endemic areas. There is a risk of spread from infected individuals to vulnerable groups sharing the same living environment, particularly those in crowded conditions in temporary housing.
The risk of transmission can be reduced by: avoiding overcrowding of reception areas for migrants, promoting and facilitating personal hygiene, checking for signs of louse infestations during medical screening, and carrying out delousing when required.
LBRF is caused by Borrelia recurrentis, a human pathogen transmitted by the body louse Pediculus humanus humanus. Mortality can be high: 10% - 40% without treatment and 2-5% in treated patients.
