Globalization of infectious diseases: the impact of migration
Gushulak, B.D.; MacPherson, D.W.
Clinical Infectious Diseases An Official Publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America 38(12): 1742-1748
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 1537-6591 PMID: 15227621 DOI: 10.1086/421268Document Number: 251463
With up to 2% of the world's population living outside of their country of birth, the potential impact of population mobility on health and on use of health services of migrant host nations is increasing in its importance. The drivers of mobility, the process of the international movement, and the back-and-forth transitioning between differential risk environments has significance for the management of infectious diseases in migrant receiving areas. The management issues are broad, high-level, and cross-cutting, including policy decisions on managing the migration process for skilled-labor requirements, population demographic and biometric characteristics, and family reunification; to program issues encompassing health care professional education, training, and maintenance of competence; communication of global events of public health significance; development of management guidelines, particularly for nonendemic diseases; access to diagnostic and therapeutic interventions for exotic or rare clinical presentations; and monitoring of health service use and health outcomes in both the migrant and local populations.