Implications of a travel connectivity-based approach for infectious disease transmission risks in Oceania | JoVE Visualize

Implications of a travel connectivity-based approach for infectious disease transmission risks in Oceania

Angela Cadavid Restrepo^1,2, Luis Furuya-Kanamori^2,3, Helen Mayfield^4,2

¹School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Faculty of Medicine, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia a.cadavidrestrepo@uq.edu.au.

BMJ Open|August 13, 2021

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Global travel increases infectious disease spread risk in Oceania. This study mapped travel networks and country vulnerability to guide targeted surveillance and control strategies for emerging pathogens.

Area of Science:

Epidemiology
Public Health
Global Health Security

Background:

Globalisation facilitates rapid spread of emerging pathogens via international travel.
Assessing travel networks is crucial for understanding epidemic patterns, especially in Oceania where air travel dominates.
Detailed travel connectivity assessments are often lacking for Oceania.

Purpose of the Study:

To analyze travel connectivity within and beyond Oceania.
To assess the risk of infectious disease importation and spread in the region.
To inform targeted surveillance and control strategies for emerging infectious diseases in Oceania.

Main Methods:

Utilized travel volume data from official sources (Australian Bureau of Statistics, Stats NZ, UNWTO) for 2018.
Incorporated the Infectious Disease Vulnerability Index (IDVI) to assess national outbreak containment capacity.
Developed travel networks to model disease spread into/from Oceania, within Oceania, and between Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) and their key international links.

Main Results:

Oceania exhibits high travel connectivity with Asia, Europe, and North America.
Australia, New Zealand, and some PICTs are highly connected to low-vulnerability countries (USA, UK) and intermediate-low vulnerability China.
Significant variation exists in PICTs' international travel connections, with Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, and Papua New Guinea showing the highest connectivity.

Conclusions:

Travel connectivity assessments are vital for accurately stratifying infectious disease importation and outbreak risks.
This data is essential for optimizing surveillance and control strategies in Oceania.
Understanding regional and global travel patterns aids in proactive public health preparedness against emerging pathogens.