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Background. Travelers visiting friends or relatives (VFR travelers) are a group identified with an increased risk of travel‐related illness. Changes in global mobility, travel patterns, and inter‐regional travel led to reappraisal of the classic definition of the term VFR.

Methods. The peer‐reviewed literature was accessed through electronic searchable sites (PubMed/Medline, ProMED, GeoSentinel, TropNetEurop, Eurosurveillance) using standard search strategies for the literature related to visiting friends/relatives, determinants of health, and travel. We reviewed the historic and current use of the definition of VFR traveler in the context of changes in population dynamics and mobility.

Results. The term “VFR” is used in different ways in the literature making it difficult to assess and compare clinical and research findings. The classic definition of VFR is …