Figure - available from: Frontiers in Public Health
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Map of the building hosting the migrants. (A) Spatial distribution (by quartiles) of the attack rates per hundred over the time period between the identification of the first case and tests. (B) neighborhood structure of ERC.
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Despite the “migrants and COVID-19” topic has been neglected since felt marginal concerning other aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it represents a relevant public health issue in the European countries. This report describes COVID-19 containment strategies adopted in a large Italian reception center hosting recently arrived asylum-seeker migrant...
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We apply optimal control theory to a generalized SEIR - type model . The proposed system has three controls , representing social distancing , preventive means , and treatment measures to combat the spread of the COVID - 19 pandemic . We analyze such optimal control problem with respect to real data transmission in Italy . Our results show the appr...
Citations
... The vulnerability of asylum seekers and migrants' reception centers to COVID-19 outbreaks has been previously stressed, and it is reasonably due to factors such as overcrowded living conditions, limited awareness of COVID-19 prevention measures, language barriers, and social gatherings within these centers (19,21,22,25). The risk of COVID-19 among refugees has been the subject of scrutiny by two studies. ...
... These studies have provided valuable insights into managing COVID-19 outbreaks in such settings. Mass screening has proven to be a valuable tool for creating a comprehensive overview of suspected outbreaks, including identifying asymptomatic or presymptomatic carriers of the virus (15,21,23,26). To enhance adherence to COVID-19 public health guidelines and prevention measures, the living conditions within these facilities should be improved (22). ...
... Furthermore, authors have stressed the importance of providing consistent primary healthcare for marginalized migrants, which has been associated with reduced morbidity and mortality (15,21,23). Recommendations include the daily presence of medical personnel, daily patient monitoring, early medical interventions, and selective transfers to tertiary centers (15). ...
Introduction: The recent surge in migration to and within the European Union and European Economic Area has brought the development of migration policy, including health policy, to the forefront of regional priorities. While migrants, in general, do not pose a health threat to the host population, specific subgroups of migrants, including refugees, asylum seekers, and irregular migrants, are particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases. To support public health policies in this area, the Emergency Preparedness and Management' working group of the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health has conducted a systematic narrative review with the aim to comprehensively analyze the infectious disease risk within the refugee and asylum seeker populations in EU, EEA, and EU-applicant countries.
Methods: Forty-two studies were systematically selected from scientific articles in the MEDLINE/PubMed database from January 1, 2008, to June 1, 2023. The infectious risk associated with each infectious disease among refugees and asylum seekers, as well as the strategies to prevent and control outbreaks, was collected from all available studies.
Results: The congregate living conditions in refugee camps, transit centers, and temporary housing facilities make this population particularly vulnerable to infectious diseases. As such, implementing stringent hygiene and preventive measures is critical to safeguarding the health of refugees and reducing the risk of outbreaks that may affect both the refugee population and the host communities.
Conclusion: Effective vaccination and preventive strategies for migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers are vital for public health and the well-being of these populations. They should be delivered as part of universal health care. By addressing barriers and implementing tailored programs, we can ensure equitable access to vaccines and protect the health of these vulnerable individuals.
... This manuscript aims to examine the current scientific literature to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. [12,13,14,15] Kondilis et al. [16] evaluated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on refugees and asylum seekers settled in Greece in 2020. These authors reported 25 outbreaks of COVID-19 in institutions receiving migrants, with a prevalence rate of 1758 cases per 100,000 individuals in migrant-receiving institutions and 2052 cases per 100,000 individuals in refugee identification and reception centres. ...
... Analysis revealed the presence of six different SARS-CoV-2 strains infecting these individuals, including a strain with a mutation in the spike protein with the potential to escape vaccine protection. The authors inferred that the situation of Venezuelan migrants arriving in Colombian territory is of great epidemiological importance and contributes to the spread of emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2, representing a risk for the general population and a challenge for public health in that country, as pointed out by Marotta et al. [12] Tramuto et al. [13] Fabris et al. [14] and Maida et al. [15] for European countries receiving immigrants through the Mediterranean route. ...
Human mobility has been associated with the spread of infectious diseases across continents for centuries. Among the groups most affected by pandemics are migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. These groups historically presented disparities in health and socioeconomic determinants comparative to the general population, and the pandemic of COVID-19 amplified and turned these inequalities more evident. This manuscript aims to examine the current scientific literature to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic among migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. This key population had a high risk of infection and mortality due to COVID-19. Migrants from countries with a low Human Development Index are the subgroup at the highest risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. This risk varies according to individual, political, and social factors. Poor health care access, flaw outbreak control, and low levels of laboratory testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection pose a risk both to migrants, asylum seekers and refugees, as for the host countries' populations.
This study aims to assess the situation of Italian hotspots for migrant reception during the COVID-19 pandemic, and specifically analyzing the situation of two hotspots located in the Sicily Region (Pozzallo harbor and Lampedusa Island), to identify critical issues. At the same time, we hypothesize solutions to guarantee the respect of human rights and suggest an operational protocol to be applied in similar situations, considering that the migration phenomenon is increasing and involving new geographical areas. Based on data obtained through the site inspections, the facilities of Pozzallo and Lampedusa exceeded their capacity to adequately contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Considering these findings, we suggest a practical workflow summarizing the main actions that should be applied to contain COVID-19, or other infectious disease, spreading in hotspots for migrants. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrants has received limited attention, although the migration phenomenon did not slow down during the pandemic period. Regarding the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as COVID-19, it is necessary that those countries who are most exposed to migration flows, such as Italy, plan dedicated strategies to minimize the possibility of transmission of SARS-CoV-2, using adequate protocols to monitor the possible insurgence of variants of interest (VOIs) or variants of concern (VOCs). Finally, it is important to state that these suggestions could be applied in any future pandemics.
