[Migrants: new travelers in a mobile world?].
As a result of globalisation, international mobility increases and diversifies. Migrants represent an increasing proportion of the European population. As many come from regions where infectious and tropical diseases are prevalent, they can be carriers of these diseases, reflecting the epidemiological situation of they country of origin. Physicians need to be able to recognize and treat them. Some migrants return home to visit friends and relatives. They are a group of travellers at higher risk, often less informed on prevention measures (malaria chemo-prophylaxis, immunization). They represent the majority of imported cases of malaria and have a higher risk of acquiring typhoid fever or hepatitis A, this is particularly the case for their children. As they are not reached by the traditional channels of information of travel medicine, it is important to develop innovative strategies to reach and inform them before departure.
Loutan
Louis
L
Unité de médecine des voyages et des migrations, département de médecine communautaire, Hôpitaux universitaires de Genève, 24, rue Micheli-du-Crest, 1211 Genève 14, Suisse. louis.loutan@hcuge.ch
D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D011634:Public Health; D012036:Refugees