[Immunization recommendations for travel in the Mediterranean area]

Abstract

The Mediterranean region is a popular destination for tourists during the summer. However, European tourists, who are travelers within their own continent, do not consider themselves exposed to possible, travel-associated infections, since problem awareness among tourists as well as doctors is rather weak. The objective of this consensus paper is to outline guidelines with regard to relevant travel immunizations for Mediterranean destinations. These recommendations are mainly based on risk calculations according to country-specific incidences and prevalences of vaccine-preventable diseases such as hepatitis A, hepatitis B, typhoid fever, meningococcal meningitis, rabies, and tick-borne encephalitis.