Parasitic infections take a tremendous toll in terms of human morbidity and mortality. Parasites, most notably malaria and soil-transmitted helminths, are highly prevalent in tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world from which many refugees originate.  Examples of adverse health affects from intestinal parasites are failure-to-thrive and anemia among young refugee children, many of whom are already nutritionally at risk.  

Beginning in 1999, refugees resettling in the U.S. underwent wide-scale presumptive pre-departure treatment with a single dose of albendazole. This treatment has proven to be very effective in fighting certain types of parasitic infections. More recently, morbidity and mortality of refugees have been attributed to invasive chronic parasites (i.e. Strongyloides stercoralis, Schistosoma spp), which may not be sufficiently treated by a single dose of albendazole.   In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention revised and broadened its pre-departure guidelines for presumptive treatment to better combat these intestinal parasites as well as malaria.  

Read more about parasites and refugee health > 

New in the Literature

Hepatitis E outbreak, Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya, 2012.  (2013)

J Ahmed, E Moturi, P Spiegel, M Schilperoord, W Burton, N Kassim, A Mohamed, M Ochieng, L Nderitu, C Navarro-Colorado, H Burke, S Cookson, T Handzel, L Waiboci, J Montgomery, E Teshale, and N Marano. Emerg Infect Dis.

Investigation of hepatitis E outbreak among refugees- Upper Nile, South Sudan, 2012-2013.  (2013) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 

Presumptive treatment and medical screening for parasites

in refugees resettling to the United States. (2013) Stauffer WM, Cantey PT, Montgomery S, Fox L, Parise ME, Gorbacheva O, Weinberg M, Doney A, Rotz L, Cetron MS. Curr Infect Dis Rep.  

Suicide and suicidal ideation among Bhutanese refugees - United States, 2009-2012. (2013) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep.

Physical activity among Somali men in Minnesota: Barriers, facilitators, and recommendations. (2013) Mohamed AA, Hassan AM, Weis JA, Sia IG, Wieland ML. Am J Mens Health.

Cervical cancer screening adherence among Somali immigrants and refugees to the United States. (2013) Morrison TB, Flynn PM, Weaver AL, Wieland ML. Health Care Women Int.

Assessing adherence to accepted national guidelines for immigrant and refugee screening and vaccines in an urban primary care practice: A retrospective chart review. (2013) Waldorf B, Gill C, Crosby SS. J Immigr Minor Health.

View more New in the Literature >

Lights, Camera, Action: ACA Videos to be Released this Fall!

Updated Healthcare.gov Website 
The healthcare.gov website now contains more information for consumers about the Health Insurance Marketplace and Open Enrollment that begins on October 1, 2013. 

States and their Health Insurance Marketplaces
Profiles on each state's progress towards establishing and funding their health insurance marketplace.

Get Ready for Obamacare Video  

The Kaiser Family Foundation released a new animated video that walks through the basic changes in the way Americans will get health coverage and what it will cost when major parts of the Affordable Care Act go into effect in 2014. 

Learn more about ACA >