title: Pathogens, prejudice, and politics: the role of the global health community in the European refugee crisis.
abstract: Involuntary migration is a crucially important global challenge from an economic, social, and public health perspective. The number of displaced people reached an unprecedented level in 2015, at a total of 60 million worldwide, with more than 1 million crossing into Europe in the past year alone. Migrants and refugees are often perceived to carry a higher load of infectious diseases, despite no systematic association. We propose three important contributions that the global health community can make to help address infectious disease risks and global health inequalities worldwide, with a particular focus on the refugee crisis in Europe. First, policy decisions should be based on a sound evidence base regarding health risks and burdens to health systems, rather than prejudice or unfounded fears. Second, for incoming refugees, we must focus on building inclusive, cost-effective health services to promote collective health security. Finally, alongside protracted conflicts, widening of health and socioeconomic inequalities between high-income and lower-income countries should be acknowledged as major drivers for the global refugee crisis, and fully considered in planning long-term solutions.
authors.affiliation: Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
authors.forename: Mishal S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Osei-Kofi
authors.affiliation: Chatham House, Centre on Global Health Security, London, UK.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Omar
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kirkbride
authors.affiliation: Communicable Diseases Policy Research Group, London, UK.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kessel
authors.affiliation: Imperial College, London, UK.
authors.forename: Aula
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abbara
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK; Chatham House, Centre on Global Health Security, London, UK.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Heymann
authors.affiliation: Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London (UCL) and National Institute of Health Research Biomedical Research Centre, UCL Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: Alimuddin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zumla
authors.affiliation: Public Health England, London, UK; Chatham House, Centre on Global Health Security, London, UK. Electronic address: osman.dar@phe.gov.uk.
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dar
mesh_terms: D017848:Blood-Borne Pathogens; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005006:Ethnicity; D005060:Europe; D014943:Global Health; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D011057:Politics; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011287:Prejudice / Q000523:psychology*; D011634:Public Health; D012036:Refugees; D014171:Transients and Migrants