If you have just returned from an overseas trip and your heart skips a beat every time you flip The West Australian’s travel pages, you may have succumbed to a contagious condition.

An outbreak of Permanent Passport in Pocket syndrome, or PPP for short, has spread mercilessly among many holidaymakers to make their transition back into the less vibrant domestic life somewhat challenging.

The outbreak is happening in the middle of a global post-pandemic travel boom as we explore new places, reunite with loved ones and enjoy their regained travel freedom.

On our arrival back home, many of us are bringing back not just happy memories but a particularly ferocious breed of travel bug that leaves us hopelessly in love with the thrill of international exploration.

From the passport stamp collector to the cruise connoisseur, the globe-trotting gastronome to eco-conscious wanderer not to mention the backpacker extraordinaire, the wellness traveller and the fashion and retail chaser, the bug has bitten many — and fast.

Recognising the tell-tale signs of a looming bug infection is essential to containing an outbreak.

If you find yourself plotting your next international adventure before you have even completed the current trip, then alarm bells should chime loudly.

Once on the ground, if you spend your days daydreaming about the next overseas jaunt and count the weeks until you are able to book another trip, then there is no denying the travel bug has taken hold of you.

If you purchase travel accessories when you have no firm plans to head overseas, religiously scour international travel sites for the best ticket prices and incessantly share images of your previous travels on social media, then all signs point to a potential diagnosis of PPP.

Other symptoms to watch out for might include a relentless desire to celebrate every birthday overseas, having a secret stash of international currencies tucked away in the sock drawer, possessing an extensive collection of maps and travel guides that you simply cannot part with and suffering from a compulsion to regale family, friends and colleagues with your mesmerising travel tales.

Some victims of the travel bug even gravitate towards careers or lifestyles that allow more frequent travel opportunities.

If you find yourself nodding in agreement as you read along and recognise yourself in some of the symptoms described, it is safe to say you have been bitten hard by this notorious bug and caught a serious case of PPP or its close relative, the Perpetual Wanderlust Syndrome.

The bad news is there is no cure for either syndrome. Once the bug infiltrates your bloodstream, it becomes a lifelong companion.

The good news is that you can learn to live with this dreadful but equally delightful affliction.

While the symptoms might persist, you can alleviate them by developing a newfound appreciation for the wonders of our own State and exploring any number of spectacular places without the need to reach for your passport.

You might be surprised at what you discover on your very own doorstep.

Yet if all else fails, there is another remedy for a particularly bad case of PPP — surrender to it and let your travel plans take flight again.

Professor Gary Martin is CEO of AIM WA and a social affairs and workplace expert.