title: The Syrian conflict and infectious diseases.
abstract: The conflict in Syria is a big humanitarian emergency. More than 200,000 Syrians have been killed, with more than half of the population either having been displaced or having immigrated. Healthcare has been interrupted due to the destruction of facilities, a lack of medical staff, and a critical shortage of life-saving medications. It produced suitable conditions leading to the re-emergence of tuberculosis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, polio, and measles. Lebanon and Jordan reported increased rates of tuberculosis among Syrian refugees. Cutaneous leishmaniasis outbreaks were noted not only in Syria but also in Turkey, Jordan, and Lebanon. After a polio-free 15 years, Syria reported a polio outbreak. Ongoing measles outbreaks in the region was accelerated by the conflict. Iraq declared a cholera outbreak among the Syrian refugees. The healthcare facilities of the countries hosting immigrants, mainly Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt, are overburdened. The majority of the immigrants live in crowded and unsanitary conditions. Infectious diseases are big challenges for Syria and for the countries hosting immigrants. More structured support from international organizations is needed for the prevention, control, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Resat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozaras
authors.affiliation: b Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical School , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leblebicioglu
authors.affiliation: b Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Ondokuz Mayis University, Medical School , Samsun , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sunbul
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Fehmi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabak
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ilker Inanc
authors.initials: II
authors.lastname: Balkan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Mucahit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yemisen
authors.affiliation: c Department. of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Sakarya University, Medical School , Sakarya , Turkey.|d Ministry of Health , Head of Turkish Public Health Institution , Ankara , Turkey.
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sencan
authors.affiliation: a Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology , Istanbul University, Cerrahpasa Medical School , Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Recep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ozturk
mesh_terms: D000352:Africa, Northern / Q000453:epidemiology; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D006296:Health Services / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008877:Middle East / Q000453:epidemiology; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013593:Syria / Q000208:ethnology; D000067453:War Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
keywords: Refugee health; Syria; infectious diseases