The researchers found a higher vulnerability of migrants for tuberculosis, including an increased risk of extrapulmonary disease, antimicrobial drug resistance of tuberculosis bacilli, HIV co-infection and worse treatment outcomes when compared to host populations. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease and the leading cause of death in infections worldwide. The researchers developed consensus recommendations for the management of tuberculosis prevention, screening and care in migrants to the EU/EEA/&UK.
“Here we provide an evidence basis and recommendations for European countries relevant to reduce tuberculosis burden in migrants. We are currently working to establish similar evidence-based guidelines for Germany“, says Berit Lange from HZI.
Recommendations include screening migrants for TB/latent TB according to country data, a minimal package for TB care in drug susceptible/resistant TB, implementation of migrant-sensitive strategies, free healthcare and preventive treatment for migrants with HIV co-infection. They agree that migrants do not “import” tuberculosis on large scale into EU/EEA/&UK and that better measures must be taken for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this preventable and treatable disease in migrants.
