title: [Infectious disease outbreaks in centralized homes for asylum seekers in Germany from 2004-2014].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Migration and imported infections are changing the distribution of infectious diseases in Europe. However little is known about the extent of transmission of imported diseases within Europe. Asylum seekers are of increasing importance for infectious disease epidemiology and can be particularly vulnerable for infections and disease progression due to stressful conditions of migration and incomplete vaccination status.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim is to analyse transmission of infectious diseases in centralized homes for asylum seekers in national infectious disease surveillance data to identify relevant infectious diseases and possible public health measures to reduce transmission.
  
  
  METHODS
  German national notification data was systematically analysed from 2004 to 2014 for outbreaks reported to have occurred within centralized homes for asylum seekers followed by descriptive analysis of outbreak- and case-characteristics.
  
  
  RESULTS
  From 2004 to 2014 the number of outbreaks in centralized homes for asylum seekers per year increased, a total of 119 outbreaks with 615 cases were reported. Cases in these outbreaks were caused by chicken pox (30 %), measles (20 %), scabies (19 %), rota-virus-gastroenteritis (8 %) and others (each <5 %). Of 119 outbreaks, two outbreaks of measles in centralized homes were connected to outbreaks outside the centralized homes. For 210 of 311 cases in 2014 the place of infection was reported, 87 % of those with known place of infection were infected in Germany.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infectious disease outbreaks in centralized homes for asylum seekers are reported increasingly often in Germany. Chicken pox, measles and scabies were the most frequent outbreak causing diseases. Spread of such outbreaks outside centralized homes for asylum seekers was rare and infectious diseases are mainly acquired in Germany. The majority of outbreaks in centralized homes for asylum seekers would be preventable with vaccinations at arrival and appropriate hygiene measures.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Infektionsepidemiologie, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland. KuehneAn@rki.de.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kühne
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Infektionsepidemiologie, Robert Koch-Institut, Seestr. 10, 13353, Berlin, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gilsdorf
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D016352:Group Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Disease outbreaks; Germany; Infectious diseases; Migration; Refugees