[TRAVEL MEDICINE IN ISRAEL: ITS HISTORY AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DISCIPLINE].

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The last century in Israel had seen a profound change in the field of travel-related infectious diseases. During the 19th century and throughout the first half of the 20th century, most scientific observations related to the various endemic infections in Palestine, and the risk they posed to the passengers/immigrants. Among the infectious hazards that have characterized the country, malaria, typhoid, cutaneous leishmaniasis, and bilharzia were especially noteworthy. With the establishment of the State of Israel and following the great waves of immigration to Israel, many endemic diseases declined or were completely eradicated, such as malaria. Since the 1980's, the emergence of the Israeli backpacking phenomenon was accompanied by a surge of imported infectious diseases, from Latin America, the Far East and Africa. Israeli travel medicine has documented these developments, with an important contribution to the literature on epidemiology, clinical aspects and the treatment and prevention of many travel-related infections.