SARS-CoV-2 Infections in a High-Risk Migratory Population Arriving to a Migrant House along the US-Mexico Border

Nadia A. Fernández-Santos, Gabriel L. Hamer, Edith G. Garrido-Lozada, Mario A. Rodríguez-Pérez

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Few reports exist on the COVID-19 epidemiology of migrant populations. We tested 370 migratory individuals from ten countries arriving at a migrant house along the US–Mexico border based on a rapid assay detecting SARS-CoV-2 antigen. Fifty-six were positive, for a prevalence of 15.1% (95%–CIs of 11.8–19.2%). Only 21 positive persons presented signs or symptoms associated with the infection (95%–CIs = 25–49%). Most (51.7%) positive migrants arrived in the previous two days before being tested, indicating that the virus infection was acquired during their transit. Out of the total of 56 positive individuals, 37.5% were from El Salvador, 33.9% from Honduras, and 21.4% from Guatemala. This study suggests that vulnerable populations traveling from countries in Latin America and seeking residence in the US are high-risk individuals for exposure to SARS-CoV-2. The rapid antigen COVID-19 testing on arrival at the migrant house, and subsequent 10-day quarantine, was a critical step to help minimize further transmission. Therefore, the present study demonstrates that public health services provided to migratory and vulnerable populations are necessary for pandemic control.

Original languageEnglish
Article number262
JournalTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
Volume7
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2022

Keywords

  • COVID-19
  • México
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • infectious diseases
  • migrants
  • prevention

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