SARS-CoV-2 Among Migrants Recently Arrived in Europe From Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Containment Strategies and Special Features of Management in Reception Centers

Abstract

Despite the “migrants and COVID-19” topic has been neglected since felt marginal concerning other aspects of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, it represents a relevant public health issue in the European countries. This report describes COVID-19 containment strategies adopted in a large Italian reception center hosting recently arrived asylum-seeker migrants. Risk assessment and prevention measures adopted were described. Geo-spatial epidemiological analysis of the outbreak was reported. Significant gaps in the knowledge of self-protection measures from contagious diseases and in the perception of the pandemic risk were observed in migrants; health promotion activities, targeted to remove cultural barriers and improve behaviors appropriate to individual protection, were able to fulfill this gap. In low-resource settings, especially in closed communities, the implementation of social distancing strategies, the systematic use of individual protection devices, and active syndromic surveillance are essential tools to limit the risk of outbreaks. In the event of an outbreak, it is relevant to rapidly activate containment procedures based on systematic screening, isolation, and quarantine, taking into consideration the limits of tracing contacts within a closed community. Not being able to trace certain contacts, the geo-spatial epidemiological analysis of cases distribution could be key in the management of the outbreak. Interestingly, positive cases identified in our facility were all clinically pauci-symptomatic or asymptomatic. Dedicated strategies are needed to minimize the chance of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a limited space such as reception centers and a vulnerable population such as migrants.

Migrants’ human rights and health protection during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Mediterranean Sea: what we have learnt from direct inspections in two Italian hotspots

“…Despite the importance of migrant management to contain the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 infection, there is a shortage of knowledge about self-protection measures for contagious diseases and in the perception of the pandemic risk among migrants. Considering the low resources in which the reception centers for migrants and refugees operate, it is important to highlight the importance of the adoption of basic measures to contain the spread of infection, such as implementing social distancing strategies, ensuring the systematic use of PPE, and active syndromic surveillance (54). In our experience, many critical areas are present in the Italian reception system for asylum seekers and refugees.…”

Providing a simple and easily accessible diagnostic tool for HIV diagnosis does not always match success in screening campaigns addressed to migrant populations

“…The ERC, located in the hinterland of Rome, Italy and managed by the Italian Red Cross (CRI), hosted 402 migrants who had recently arrived and were largely from WHO Eastern Mediterranean and African regions. ( Fabris et al, 2021 ) As part of the ETW 2021 event, the clinic operating in the ERC was provided with a laboratory tool for molecular diagnostics (GeneXpert II System, Cepheid, Sunnyvale, California, USA) and offered free tests for the rapid diagnosis of HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) using mini digital capillary blood samples.…”