VANCOUVER, Canada, May 21 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Sanofi pasteur , the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group, today announced the launch of a new web site to help travellers prepare for their trip by providing information about travel-related infectious diseases and immunization recommendations: www.travel-vaccines.com
Less than 10% of travellers(1) seek pre-travel information about potential health-risks
The new web site is aimed at improving travellers’ awareness with easy-to-find information about travel-related infectious diseases. It was unveiled during a symposium centered on “How to better protect travellers” organized by sanofi pasteur on the opening day of the 10th Conference of the International Society of Travel Medicine (ISTM) held in Vancouver.
About 1.6 billion travellers expected in 2020
Each year, more than 800 million people travel worldwide. More than half of them are tourists, 25% visiting friends or relatives or are travelling for religious purposes(2). With the growth of long-haul travel worldwide predicted at 5.4% per annum by 2020(3), the risk of exposure to travel-related diseases is increasing.
Over 40% of travellers develop health problems, mostly gastrointestinal symptoms, but also respiratory symptoms, skin disorders or febrile episodes(4).
Depending on the destination, duration and purpose of the trip, the risks of infection will vary. For example, 30 to 60% of travellers to developing countries develop travellers’ diarrhea, by far the most common disease experienced by travellers to such countries(5).
Aside of diarrhea, travellers may suffer from more serious diseases that could be prevented by vaccination such as yellow fever, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid, or hepatitis A. Vaccination performed ahead of travel can provide adequate protection against these debilitating diseases.
A one-stop-source for travel vaccine information: www.travel-vaccines.com
Sanofi pasteur has developed its website to provide essential health information and practical advice including disease maps, vaccination recommendations and travel clinic locations (United States and Canada).
Useful links are also provided to travellers seeking additional information from health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO)(6) and the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention(7)
Note to Editors:
Sanofi pasteur has the broadest portfolio of vaccines for travellers to help prevent against the following infectious diseases (not every vaccine is available in all countries):
Cholera: Cholera is an acute intestinal infection caused by toxigenic Vibrio cholerae O-group 1 or O-group 139. The infection is often mild and self-limited or subclinical. Patients with severe cases respond dramatically to simple fluid- and electrolyte-replacement therapy. Infection is acquired primarily by ingesting contaminated water or food; person-to-person transmission is rare(8).
Diarrhea: The most common cause of travellers’ diarrhea worldwide is ETEC, Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. Ingestion of a large inoculum of this organism is necessary to produce disease. These high inoculums occur when there is a breakdown in sanitation, which is often the case in developing countries where ETEC infections are common. ETEC typically produces a watery diarrhea associated with cramps. Fever may be low or absent(8).
Diphtheria: Diphtheria is an acute bacterial disease caused by toxigenic strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and occasionally C. ulcerans. It is transmitted through respiratory droplets and personal contact. Diphtheria affects the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract (respiratory diphtheria), the skin (cutaneous diphtheria), and occasionally other sites (eyes, nose, or vagina)(8).
Hepatitis A: Hepatitis A is a viral infection of the liver caused by hepatitis A virus (HAV). The clinical manifestations of HAV infection range in clinical severity from no symptoms to a mild illness lasting 1-2 weeks to a severely disabling disease lasting several months. Clinical manifestations of hepatitis A often include fever, malaise, anorexia, nausea and abdominal discomfort, followed within a few days by jaundice(8).
Japanese encephalitis (JE): JE, a mosquito-borne flaviviral infection, is the leading cause of childhood encephalitis in Asia, where up to 50,000 cases may be reported annually. Most infections are asymptomatic, but when encephalitis develops, the case-fatality rate can be as high as 30%. Neuropsychiatric sequelae are reported in 50% of survivors. Although children are at greatest risk of infection in endemic areas, outdoor occupation, recreational exposure, and male gender are also risk factors for infection(8).
Meningococcal disease: Meningococcal disease is an acute bacterial disease characterized by sudden onset with fever; intense headache; nausea and often vomiting; stiff neck; and, frequently, a petechial rash with pink macules. Formerly, the case-fatality ratio exceeded 50%, but early diagnosis, modern therapy, and supportive measures have lowered the case-fatality ratio to about 10%. Among survivors, 11%-19% have long-term sequelae, including hearing loss, neurologic disability, or loss of a limb. Up to 10% of populations in countries with endemic disease carry the bacteria (Neisseria meningitidis) asymptomatically in their nose and throat(8).
Poliomyelitis: Poliomyelitis (polio) is a highly infectious disease caused by a virus that invades the nervous system and can cause severe paralysis. The virus enters the body through the mouth and multiplies in the intestine. Initial symptoms are fever, fatigue, headache, vomiting, stiffness in the neck, and pain in the limbs. One in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis (usually in the legs). Among those paralyzed, 5-10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized. Polio mainly affects children under five years of age. In 1994, the Region of the Americas was certified polio-free by the World Health Organization, followed by the Western Pacific Region in 2000 and the European Region in 2002; however, worldwide efforts are continuing towards global eradication of this contagious and devastating disease(6).
Rabies: Rabies, an acute, fatal encephalomyelitis caused by neurotropic viruses in the family Rhabdoviridae, genus Lyssavirus, is almost always transmitted by an animal bite that inoculates the virus into wounds. Very rarely, rabies has been transmitted by nonbite exposures that introduce the virus into open wounds or mucous membranes. All mammals are believed to be susceptible, but reservoirs are carnivores and bats. Although dogs are the main reservoir in developing countries, the epidemiology of the disease differs sufficiently from one region or country to another to warrant the medical evaluation of all mammal bites(8).
Tetanus: Tetanus, an acute disease caused by Clostridium tetani, is characterized by muscle rigidity and painful spasms, often starting in the muscles of the jaw and neck. Severe tetanus can lead to respiratory failure and death. The disease is caused by a neurotoxin produced by anaerobic tetanus bacilli growing in contaminated wounds. Lesions that are considered “tetanus prone” are wounds contaminated with dirt, feces or saliva, deep wounds, burns, crush injuries or those with necrotic tissue. However, tetanus has also been associated with apparently clean superficial wounds, surgical procedures, insect bites, dental infections, chronic sores and infections, and intravenous drug use(8).
Typhoid: Typhoid: Typhoid fever is caused by Salmonella typhi, the typhoid bacillus. It is characterized by the sudden onset of sustained fever, severe headache, nausea, loss of appetite, constipation or sometimes diarrhoea. Severe forms have been described with mental dullness and meningitis. Case-fatality rates of 10% can be reduced to less than 1% with appropriate antibiotic therapy. However, strains resistant to chloramphenicol and other recommended antibiotics (ampicillin, cotrimoxazole and even ciprofloxacin) have become prevalent in several areas of the world(6).
Yellow fever: Yellow fever is a viral disease that is transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Illness ranges in severity from an influenza-like syndrome to severe hepatitis and hemorrhagic fever. The yellow fever virus is maintained in nature by mosquito-borne transmission between nonhuman primates. Transmission by mosquitoes from one human to another occurs during epidemics of “urban yellow fever.” (8)
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis is one of the world leaders in the pharmaceutical industry, ranking number one in Europe. Backed by a world-class R&D organisation, sanofi-aventis is developing leading positions in seven major therapeutic areas: cardiovascular, thrombosis, oncology, metabolic diseases, central nervous system, internal medicine and vaccines. Sanofi-aventis is listed in Paris and in New York .
Sanofi pasteur, the vaccines division of the sanofi-aventis Group, provided more than a billion doses of vaccine in 2006, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, sanofi pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The Company’s heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future events, operations, products and services, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “intends,” “estimates,” “plans” and similar expressions. Although sanofi-aventis’ management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of sanofi-aventis, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by sanofi-aventis, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in sanofi-aventis’ annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2006. Other than as required by applicable law, sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.
J Travel Med 2000; Winer L & Alkan M, Incidence and Precipitating Factors of Morbidity among Israeli Travellers Abroad, J Travel Med 2002; Rack J et al. Risk and Spectrum of Diseases in Travellers to Popular Tourist Destinations, J Travel Med 2005
(1) ISTM data; Gisler 2005; van Herck 2004; Hamer & Connor 2004.
(2) WHO International travel and health publication. 2007 report.
(3) UNWTO 2006
(4) Hill DR, Health Problems in a Large Cohort of Americans Traveling to Developing Countries
(5) Bacaner N, Stauffer B, Boulware DR, Walker PF, Keystone JS. Travel medicine considerations for North American immigrants visiting friends and relatives. JAMA. 2004 Jun 16;291(23):2856-64.
(6) http://www.who.int/en/ (7) http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ (8) CDC Yellow Book 2005-2006. Accessed on 14th of december 2006 Contact: Sanofi pasteur Pascal Barollier International Media Relations Tel: +33-(0)4-37-37-51-41 pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com Len Lavenda US Media Relations Tel: +1-570-839-4446 len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com
Sanofi Pasteur
CONTACT: Contact: sanofi Pasteur: Pascal Barollier, International MediaRelations, Tel: +33-(0)4-37-37-51-41, pascal.barollier@sanofipasteur.com;Len Lavenda, US Media Relations, Tel: +1-570-839-4446,len.lavenda@sanofipasteur.com
