SEXUALLY TRANSMISSIBLE DISEASES AND TRAVEL

Sexually transmissible diseases (STDs) continue to be the most common notifiable infectious conditions worldwide. Their unacceptably high in cidence is underlined by the recent emergence of a (presently) incurab le and lethal STD, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, which merits its description as a pandemic, and with which other STDs inter act in an epidemiological synergy. Certain travellers, by virtue of th eir behavioural interactions with 'core-groups' of efficient transmitt ers, may have a high relative risk of acquisition of an STD. This risk can be virtually eliminated by avoiding penetrative sexual intercours e with casual partners, especially injecting drug users and persons wh o have had multiple sexual partners (particularly prostitutes), or red uced by the use of condoms. The risk of parenteral exposure can be red uced by avoiding parenteral drug use and behaviour that is likely to l ead to injury and by seeking facilities with adequate capabilities to screen blood donors and to sterilize instruments.