European Journal of Public Health
Volume 24, Issue SUPPL.1, 2014, Pages 47-56

Infectious diseases in North Africa and North African immigrants to Europe (Article) (Open Access)

Khyatti M.* , Trimbitas R.-D. , Zouheir Y. , Benani A. , El Messaoudi M.-D. , Hemminki K.
  • a Laboratory of Onco-Virology, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Research Department, 1, Place Louis Pasteur, 20 360 Casablanca, Morocco
  • b Laboratory of Onco-Virology, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Research Department, 1, Place Louis Pasteur, 20 360 Casablanca, Morocco
  • c Laboratory of Onco-Virology, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Research Department, 1, Place Louis Pasteur, 20 360 Casablanca, Morocco
  • d Laboratory of Onco-Virology, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Research Department, 1, Place Louis Pasteur, 20 360 Casablanca, Morocco
  • e Laboratory of Onco-Virology, Pasteur Institute of Morocco, Research Department, 1, Place Louis Pasteur, 20 360 Casablanca, Morocco
  • f Department of Molecular Genetic Epidemiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany

Abstract

The epidemiological transition has reduced infectious diseases mortality in most European countries, yet increased migrant influx risks importing diseases. All reported prevalence rates must be considered on a case-by-case basis depending on the disease in question, respective European Union (EU) country and migratory patterns at work. Tuberculosis has seen a re-emergence in Europe and is concentrated among migrants. Migrants arriving from North Africa (NA) and sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) carry higher rates of hepatitis C and B than the local EU population. The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) impact of NA migrants to Europe is very low but a hallmark of the HIV epidemic is the penetration and circulation of non-B strains, recombinant forms and HIV-drug-resistant profiles through SSA migrants using NA as a transit point into Europe. Leishmaniasis is a re-emerging zoonotic disease prevalent to Southern Europe although not specifically isolated in migrant groups. Although not endemic in NA countries, malaria represents a risk in terms of re-emergence in Europe through transitory migrants arriving from SSA with the destination to Europe. Schistosomiasis has been largely eliminated from NA. High migrant flux into European countries has resulted in changing patterns of communicable disease and collectively requires a continuous surveillance. World Health Organization guidelines recommend targeted screening and preventative vaccination, followed by integration of migrants into the local health-care systems allowing for long-term treatment and follow-up. Finally, effective public health campaigns as a form of prevention are essential for the mitigation of disease dissemination in the migrant pool and for second-generation children of migrants. © 2014 The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

statistics and numerical data Emigrants and Immigrants tuberculosis HIV Infections Africa south of the Sahara Africa Communicable Diseases ethnology prevalence Europe Africa, Northern human Humans migrant hepatitis C
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84906258236&doi=10.1093%2feurpub%2fcku109&partnerID=40&md5=f4cc3e0ed2902ab1654d47f59975bc1c
DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/cku109
ISSN: 11011262
Cited by: 18
Original Language: English