Perceived Vaccination Status in Ecotourists and Risks of Anthropozoonoses

Abstract

Anthropozoonotic (human to nonhuman animal) transmission of infectious disease poses a significant threat to wildlife. A large proportion of travelers to tropical regions are not protected against vaccine-preventable illnesses, and a majority of these travelers demonstrate poor recall of actual vaccination status. Here we characterize self-perceived vaccination status among a large sample of ecotourists at the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sabah, Malaysia. Despite their recognized travel itinerary to view endangered animals, tourists at wildlife sanctuaries are not adequately protected against vaccine-preventable illnesses. Of 633 surveys, over half reported being currently vaccinated against tuberculosis, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, polio, and measles. Fewer participants reported current vaccination status for influenza, rabies, and chickenpox. Despite the fact that the majority of visitors to Sepilok are from temperate regions where influenza is relatively more prevalent, 67.1% of those surveyed with medical-related occupations reported not being currently vaccinated for influenza. Ecotourists concerned about environmental protection are themselves largely unaware of their potential contribution to the spread of diseases to animals. The risks of negatively affecting animal populations must be communicated to all concerned parties, and this may begin by urging travelers to examine their actual vaccination status, particularly as the ecotourism industry continues its rapid expansion, and is seen increasingly as a possible tool to save great ape populations from extinction.

Potential Pathogens Reported in Species of the Family Viverridae and Their Implications for Human and Animal Health

“…As ecotourism, and hence visitation to national parks, expands globally, an increase in human-wildlife contact has led to a corresponding increase in the risk of transmission of disease (Muehlenbein et al, 2008), a risk which was illustrated in the Serengeti National Park in 2009 when an African civet, showing clinical signs consistent with rabies, bit a child in an unprovoked attack. A novel lyssavirus, the ikoma lyssavirus, was subsequently isolated from the civet (Marston et al, 2012).…”

In This Issue

“…The threat to wildlife populations of anthropozoonotic (human-to-nonhuman animal) infectious disease is often overlooked by ecotourists. Muehlenbein et al (2008) characterize the perceived vaccination status among a sample of ecotourists to the Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre, Sabah, Malaysia. A large proportion of the visitors surveyed were not immunized against a number of vaccine-preventable infections.…”

Importance of animal/human health interface in potential Public Health Emergencies of International Concern in the Americas

“…Also, in the case of measles events, it is important to consider the potential risk of an anthropozoonotic (human to nonhuman animal) transmission of the disease, which poses a threat to wildlife, in this case nonhuman primates. Outbreaks and serological evidence of nonhuman primate infections have already been reported in relation to tourism and employees of a monkey house facility (57)(58)(59).…”