Authors: Garyphallia Poulakou Diamantis Plachouras
Publish Date: 2016/10/11
Volume: 42, Issue: 12, Pages: 2055-2058
Abstract
In recent years we have been witnessing infections caused by emerging and reemerging pathogens Climate change extends the suitable environment for vectors previously confined to particular geographic areas consequently tropical diseases are no longer constricted in tropical areas However the most important parameter for “globalization” of infectious diseases is the restless mobility of humans International travel has been steadily increasing beyond travel for business and tourism Visiting friends and relatives pilgrimage medical tourism and voluntary humanitarian and healthcare work may contribute to increasing risk for infectious diseases and crossborder spread 1 On top of that in the last 3 years conflicts poverty and political instability in several countries produced a huge flow of migrants and refugees into Europe Locally and internationally displaced people are temporarily settled in organized or random overcrowded camps Until now the most common infections reported in refugee populations have been skin infections common viral respiratory syndromes gastrointestinal syndromes cases of inadequately treated tuberculosis and outbreaks of vaccinepreventable diseases However concerns about emerging and reemerging diseases in migrants and refugees include more severe diseases like viral hemorrhagic fevers cholera and severe respiratory syndromes On the basis of the incubation periods most infections concern transit and temporary settlement countries whereas malaria tuberculosis HIV and hepatitis B and C may also emerge in final destination countries Migrants and refugees are prone to endemic infections in the transit countries including vectorborne diseases 2 3
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