Improving care of migrants is key for viral hepatitis elimination in Europe
File(s)
Author(s)
Kim, Jin Un
Ingiliz, Patrick
Shimakawa, Yusuke
Lemoine, Maud
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
By 2040, deaths from chronic viral hepatitis worldwide are projected to exceed those from human immunodeficiency virus infection,
tuberculosis and malaria combined. The burden of this disease is predominantly carried by low-resource countries in Africa and Asia. In
resource-rich countries, the epidemiological spread of viral hepatitis is partially driven by migrant movements from areas of high endemicity.
In the last decade, Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area have experienced an unprecedented influx
of migrants, which has resulted in the polarization of political views about migration. In addition, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
has worsened the economic and health conditions of migrants and contributed to hostility to ensuring their health rights. Moreover, the
implementation of hostile laws in some host nations has increased the vulnerability of marginalized migrant subgroups, such as asylum
seekers and undocumented individuals. These developments have complicated the historical challenge of identifying high-risk migrant
groups for screening and treatment. However, if European countries can apply the simplified assessment tools and diagnostic tests for viral
hepatitis that have been used for decentralized screening and monitoring in resource-poor countries, the uptake of care by migrants could
be dramatically increased. Given the global calls for the elimination of viral hepatitis, European nations should recognize the importance of
treating this vulnerable migrant population. Political and health strategies need to be adapted to meet this challenge and help eliminate
viral hepatitis globally
tuberculosis and malaria combined. The burden of this disease is predominantly carried by low-resource countries in Africa and Asia. In
resource-rich countries, the epidemiological spread of viral hepatitis is partially driven by migrant movements from areas of high endemicity.
In the last decade, Member States of the European Union and the European Economic Area have experienced an unprecedented influx
of migrants, which has resulted in the polarization of political views about migration. In addition, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic
has worsened the economic and health conditions of migrants and contributed to hostility to ensuring their health rights. Moreover, the
implementation of hostile laws in some host nations has increased the vulnerability of marginalized migrant subgroups, such as asylum
seekers and undocumented individuals. These developments have complicated the historical challenge of identifying high-risk migrant
groups for screening and treatment. However, if European countries can apply the simplified assessment tools and diagnostic tests for viral
hepatitis that have been used for decentralized screening and monitoring in resource-poor countries, the uptake of care by migrants could
be dramatically increased. Given the global calls for the elimination of viral hepatitis, European nations should recognize the importance of
treating this vulnerable migrant population. Political and health strategies need to be adapted to meet this challenge and help eliminate
viral hepatitis globally
Date Issued
2021-04-01
Date Acceptance
2020-10-01
Citation
Bulletin of the World Health Organization, 2021, 99 (4), pp.280-286
ISSN
0042-9686
Publisher
World Health Organization
Start Page
280
End Page
286
Journal / Book Title
Bulletin of the World Health Organization
Volume
99
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Author(s). This work is licensed with CC BY 3.0 IGO license.
License URL
Sponsor
Medical Research Council
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000648908700009&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
DRIED BLOOD SPOT
QUANTIFICATION
INTERVENTIONS
MIGRATION
HEALTH
RNA
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2021-01-21