American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 62, Issue 1, 2000, Pages 115-121

Malaria, intestinal parasites, and schistosomiasis among Barawan Somali refugees resettling to the United States: A strategy to reduce morbidity and decrease the risk of imported infections (Article) (Open Access)

Miller J.M. , Boyd H.A. , Ostrowski S.R. , Cookson S.T. , Parise M.E. , Gonzaga P.S. , Addiss D.G. , Wilson M. , Nguyen-Dinh P. , Wahlquist S.P. , Weld L.H. , Wainwright R.B. , Gushulak B.D. , Cetron M.S.*
  • a Fort Detrick, 1607 Porter Street, Frederick, MD 21702-5004, United States
  • b Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
  • c Division of Quarantine, Mailstop E03, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • d Division of Quarantine, Mailstop E03, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • e Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., 4770 Butbrd Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, United States
  • f Div. Child Devmt., Disability, Hlth., Natl. Ctr. for Environmental Health, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., 4770 Buford Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, United States
  • g Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., 4770 Butbrd Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, United States
  • h Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., 4770 Butbrd Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, United States
  • i Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., 4770 Butbrd Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, United States
  • j Division of Parasitic Diseases, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., 4770 Butbrd Highway, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724, United States
  • k Division of Quarantine, Mailstop E03, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • l Division of Quarantine, Mailstop E03, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States
  • m Medical Services, Intl. Organization for Migration, Geneva, Switzerland
  • n Division of Quarantine, Mailstop E03, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States, Division of Quarantine, Natl. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Dis. Contr. and Prev., 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, United States

Abstract

In 1997, enhanced health assessments were performed for 390 (10%) of approximately 4,000 Barawan refugees resettling to the United States. Of the refugees who received enhanced assessments, 26 (7%) had malaria parasitemia and 128 (38%) had intestinal parasites, while only 2 (2%) had Schistosoma haematobium eggs in the urine. Mass therapy for malaria (a single oral dose of 25 mg/kg of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine) was given to all Barawan refugees 1-2 days before resettlement. Refugees >2 years of age and nonpregnant women received a single oral dose of 600 mg albendazole for intestinal parasite therapy. If mass therapy had not been provided, upon arrival in the United States an estimated 280 (7%) refugees would have had malaria infections and 1,500 (38%) would have had intestinal parasites. We conclude that enhanced health assessments provided rapid on-site assessment of parasite prevalence and helped decrease morbidity among Barawan refugees, as well as, the risk of imported infections.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee human Malaria Aged Adolescent male female Albendazole Schistosoma haematobium Article Parasitemia major clinical study adult schistosomiasis Somalia Schistosoma hematobium infection fansidar intestine parasite Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0034108737&doi=10.4269%2fajtmh.2000.62.115&partnerID=40&md5=af22c8001f0b07fdad5de7bbe9af2472
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2000.62.115
ISSN: 00029637
Cited by: 52
Original Language: English