TB among refugees from Ukraine in European countries

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Migration Health

Background:

• Millions of refugees fled Ukraine following the Russian Federation's invasion.
• Assessing the tuberculosis (TB) burden in this displaced population is crucial.
• Understanding current TB screening approaches for refugees is essential.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the tuberculosis burden among refugees from Ukraine in European countries.
• To survey and analyze the TB screening policies implemented for these refugees.
• To identify disparities in TB notification rates based on screening strategies.

Main Methods:

• A survey was conducted across 30 EU/EEA and 13 other European countries.
• Data collected included migrant population figures, TB notifications by country of birth (Ukraine), and refugee screening policies.
• Analysis compared TB notification rates across countries with different screening approaches.

Main Results:

• In 2022, 6.9 million migrants and refugees from Ukraine resided in responding countries.
• TB notification rates were 12.8/100,000 in 2022, with 26% having multidrug-resistant/rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB).
• Countries with screening policies reported higher TB rates (14.7–16.9/100,000) than those without (7.2/100,000).

Conclusions:

• TB rates in refugees from Ukraine were lower than anticipated but higher where screening was recommended.
• The findings highlight the necessity for comprehensive TB health services for Ukrainian refugees.
• Tailored diagnosis and treatment, particularly for MDR/RR-TB, are critical for this population.