Illness Associated with a Package Holiday in Romania

Abstract

A study of 370 holidaymakers returning from Romania revealed that 279 (75%) reported illness. Alimentary symptoms predominated and were recorded either alone or along with other symptoms by 71 per cent of the tourists. The highest illness rate (82%) occurred in those under 39 years of age and those over 60 years had least illness (38%). Most of the tourists attributed their illnesses to the supply, handling or preparation of food and drink. Twenty-six (21%) tourists had serological evidence of typhoid immunisation out of 121 from whom blood samples were obtained. Most of the tourists studied (85%) were immune to poliomyelitis.