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Dukoral Oral Vaccine To Stop Travellers' Diarrhea Approved In Canada TORONTO, ON -- May 13, 2003 -- Travellers' diarrhea is the most common medical problem affecting travellers to developing countries. Up to 50 per cent of international travellers to developing countries will fall victim to Travellers' diarrhea, potentially ruining a perfect vacation. Health Canada has recently approved Dukoral™ and it will be available to Canadians in May 2003. Dukoral, indicated for adults and children two years of age and older, is the first and only oral vaccine that safely helps protect travellers against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), the most common cause of Travellers' diarrhea. Dukoral also provides protection against cholera caused by Vibrio cholerae. "Dukoral provides the best protection against the most common cause of travellers' diarrhea," said Dr. Suni Boraston, travel medicine specialist, Vancouver BC. "I have patients who have taken all of the necessary precautions -- drinking purified water, eating fully cooked and hot food and peeling their own fruit - and have still been affected by travellers' diarrhea. Dukoral is another way for us to help our patients have an uninterrupted vacation or business trip." Two doses of Dukoral, taken one week apart prior to the trip, helps protect travellers for three months. The last dose should be taken at least one week before departure. Effective travellers' diarrhea and Cholera Protection In a randomized double-blind study done in Bangladesh in 89,596 adults and children aged 2 years and older, Dukoral conferred 67 per cent protection against episodes of diarrhea caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli synthesizing heat-labile toxin (LT-ETEC), 86 per cent protection against clinically severe episodes of LT-ETEC and 85 per cent protection against cholera. While Dukoral provides effective travellers' diarrhea and cholera protection, no food group can be regarded as "safe" as the sources of foodborne illness can be numerous. It is important to remind patients to take precautions when travelling. Patients should be educated about safe food and beverage choices, water purification and good hygienic measures. Safety and Tolerability In clinical trials conducted in Bangladesh, Peru and Sweden, gastrointestinal symptoms were reported with similar frequency in vaccine and placebo groups. No serious adverse reactions were reported. In postmarketing surveillance, gastrointestinal symptoms (diarrhea, abdominal pain, nausea) and fever have been reported very rarely. Serious adverse events including headache, dizziness and dyspnea have been reported very rarely (<1/100,000 doses distributed). Travellers' diarrhea and Cholera Travellers' diarrhea is a high-incidence condition that can have serious health implications. As travellers' diarrhea is the most common medical problem affecting travellers to Mexico, the Caribbean, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and most parts of Asia, Canadians need to take extra precautions with their health. Factors that may be associated with a higher probability of acquiring travellers' diarrhea include adventurous eating habits, gastric hypochlorhydria, gastrectomy, history of repeated severe Travellers' diarrhea, immunodeficiency diseases, and the relative lack of gut immunity seen in younger persons. Cholera is an acute bacterial infection that presents as profuse, watery diarrhea. It is associated with rapid dehydration and occasionally hypovolemic shock, which may be life threatening. In its extreme manifestation, cholera is one of the most rapidly fatal infectious illnesses known. Travellers who may be at increased risk for acquiring cholera include health care professionals working in endemic areas, aid workers in refugee camps, and perhaps those travelling in remote areas where health care is not readily available. Vacation plans of 1.3 million Canadians are affected every year by travellers' diarrhea. Even mild cases can seriously impact a traveller's vacation with diarrheal symptoms and a lack of energy lasting three to five days. On a vacation in Mexico, it is estimated that Canadians spend an average of $2,000 per seven-day trip per person - thus a mild case of travellers' diarrhea can mean time and money wasted feeling unwell. SOURCE: Fleishman-Hillard Canada E-mail this page to a friend or colleague! To print, use this version