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Table 1 Key messages about tuberculosis and migration in high-income countries

From: The impact of migration on tuberculosis epidemiology and control in high-income countries: a review

• Tuberculosis continues to be a public health concern in high-income countries

• Tuberculosis burden in high-income countries is primarily amongst the foreign-born, migrant population

• The reasons underlying this burden are the interaction of migration from high TB burden countries and the reactivation of remotely acquire latent tuberculosis infection in the first five years after arrival

• Genotyping data suggests that there is relatively little transmission in migrant communities in the receiving country

• Methods of TB control in migrant population have historically focused on identifying active tuberculosis but the yields for this remain relatively low

• Screening migrants for latent tuberculosis infection may have a higher yield although implementation may be difficult

• The health economics of screening migrants for active and/or latent tuberculosis is a topic of much debate

• Targeted pre-arrival screening for active TB and post arrival screening for latent tuberculosis infection in migrants from intermediate/high TB burden settings may provide the most cost-effective solution

• Implementation of programmatic screening is limited by uptake, acceptance and completion of therapy