Chickenpox Outbreaks in Three Refugee Camps on Mainland Greece, 2016-2017: A Retrospective Study

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Author(s)Scales, Sarah Elizabeth
Author(s)Park, Jee Won
Author(s)Nixon, Rebecca
Author(s)Guha-Sapir, Debarati
Author(s)Horney, Jennifer A.
Date Accessioned2024-02-19T18:45:59Z
Date Available2024-02-19T18:45:59Z
Publication Date2023-12-18
DescriptionThis article was originally published in Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. The version of record is available at: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X23006702. © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine
AbstractIntroduction: Displaced populations face disproportionately high risk of communicable disease outbreaks given the strains of travel, health care circumstances in their country of origin, and limited access to health care in receiving countries. Study Objective: Understanding the role of demographic characteristics in outbreaks is important for timely and efficient control measures. Accordingly, this study assesses chickenpox outbreaks in three large refugee camps on mainland Greece from 2016 – 2017, using clinical line-list data from Médecins du Monde (MdM) clinics. Methods: Clinical line-list data from MdM clinics operating in Elliniko, Malakasa, and Raidestos camps in mainland Greece were used to characterize chickenpox outbreaks in these camps. Logistic regression was used to compare the odds of chickenpox by sex, camp, and yearly increase in age. Incidences were calculated for age categories and for sex for each camp outbreak. Results: Across camps, the median age was 19 years (IQR: 7.00 - 30.00 years) for all individuals and five years (IQR: 2.00 - 8.00 years) for cases. Males were 55.94% of the total population and 51.32% of all cases. There were four outbreaks of chickenpox across Elliniko (n = 1), Malakasa (n = 2), and Raidestos (n = 1) camps. The odds of chickenpox when controlling for age and sex was lower for Malakasa (OR = 0.46; 95% CI, 0.38 - 0.78) and Raidestos (OR = 0.36; 95% CI, 0.24 - 0.56) when compared Elliniko. Odds of chickenpox were comparable between Malakasa and Raidestos (OR = 1.49; 95% CI, 0.92 - 2.42). Across all camps, the highest incidence was among children zero-to-five years of age. The sex-specific incidence chickenpox was higher for males than females in Elliniko and Malakasa, while the incidence was higher among females in Raidestos. Conclusion: As expected, individuals five years of age and under made up the majority of chickenpox cases. However, 12% of cases were teenagers or older, highlighting the need to consider atypical age groups in vaccination strategies and control measures. To support both host and displaced populations, it is important to consider risk-reduction needs for both groups. Including host communities in vaccination campaigns and activities can help reduce the population burden of disease for both communities.
SponsorThe authors declare that they have no competing interests. This work was supported by the University of Delaware Graduate College through the UNIDEL Distinguished Graduate Scholar Award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors.
CitationScales SE, Park JW, Nixon R, Guha-Sapir D, Horney JA. Chickenpox Outbreaks in Three Refugee Camps on Mainland Greece, 2016-2017: A Retrospective Study. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine. Published online 2023:1-10. doi:10.1017/S1049023X23006702
ISSN1945-1938
URLhttps://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/34002
Languageen_US
PublisherPrehospital and Disaster Medicine
dc.rightsAttribution 4.0 Internationalen
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Keywordscomplex emergency
Keywordsdisaster epidemiology
Keywordsdisplacement
Keywordshumanitarian health
Keywordsvaricella
TitleChickenpox Outbreaks in Three Refugee Camps on Mainland Greece, 2016-2017: A Retrospective Study
TypeArticle
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