Evidence-based guidance on screening for infectious diseases among migrants to the EU/EEA

EHG was commissioned by ECDC in Sweden and EC countries to conduct an evidence-based guidance on screening for infectious diseases among migrants to the EU/EEA.

The purpose of this evidence based guidance was to provide recommendations for testing and screening of infectious diseases in migrant populations arriving in EEU/EEA. Specifically, the guidance identifies priority infectious diseases and public health interventions to improve the health of migrants with vulnerabilities and to maintain the health of receiving communities.

The migration process for newly arriving migrants includes a European entry stage, a temporary reception/detainment stage and a community integration stage. Each stage offers potential opportunities for public health and primary care interventions. The community integration stage can lead to local public health links and integration into local primary health care. For the purposes of this guidance, we highlighted migrant populations with health risk associated with recent travel and arrival (usually within five years), country and origin, circumstances of migration and gender and age when relevant.