FHI confirms: Has detected tuberculosis among Ukrainian refugees in Norway
– We are aware that the screening on arrival has revealed some cases of tuberculosis disease among newly arrived Ukrainians. It is as expected, when it is reached, a high number of people arrive from a country with a high risk of tuberculosis, FHI chief physician Karine Nordstrand informs ABC News.
Tuberculosis can be localized to various organs, but most often attacks the lungs. The disease is transmitted primarily from droplet infection and patient with pulmonary tuberculosis. Upon inhalation, the tubercle bacteria are introduced into the lungs, according to Large Norwegian encyclopedia.
All refugees and asylum seekers must be examined
All Ukrainians who come to Norway are checked for various diseases on arrival. This is to prevent the spread of infection at the reception and in society in general.
– In contrast to Denmark, where tuberculosis examination on arrival is voluntary, we in Norway have a mandatory obligation for tuberculosis examination of all refugees and asylum seekers who arrive in the country. This also applies to Ukrainians, confirms FHI chief physician Karine Nordstrand.
Infected are isolated
In addition to the control of tuberculosis, new refugees from Ukraine are recommended for screening for HIV and hepatitis B and C at the general health examination offered to most refugees and asylum seekers.
– If the examination gives suspicion of tuberculosis disease, persons will be isolated and referred for further examination and treatment. Then they will initiate infection tracking work to catch people who may have been exposed to infection so that they can also be examined and possibly offered treatment, writes FHI chief physician Karine Nordstrand in an email to ABC News.
Denmark drops screening: – If you meet patients with symptoms, then you have to be careful
In Denmark, researchers warn against infectious diseases among Ukrainian refugees. If Denmark receives 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, 20,000 will potentially be infected with tuberculosis.
One percentage of them can develop infectious diseases. The country does not have a system of systematic screening, as in Norway. Well, researchers recommend introducing mandatory screening.
– We are not used to thinking about tuberculosis in Denmark because the incidence is so small. Men face patients with symptoms, so be careful . And you have to sign up for tuberculosis if, for example, it is a patient who coughs, says Andreas Rudkjøbing to Radio4, according to EkstraBladet.
Tuberculosis infection occurs through airborne spread
Tuberculosis is slightly contagious compared to many other diseases, and infection usually presupposes. Tuberculosis infection occurs through airborne spread of the tuberculosis bacterium from a person with pulmonary tuberculosis according to FHI.
Outdoor infection is very rare. With few exceptions, it is just untreated pulmonary tuberculosis that infects others. Tuberculosis and other organs, such as lymph nodes or skeleton, are not contagious in practice.
– The vast majority of newcomers do not have a contagious disease
– It is important to emphasize that most of the new people do not have any infectious diseases. Newcomers usually do not have to wait for an exam answer before they can participate in community life and, emphasizes FHI chief physician Karine Nordstrand.
Only a few of those infected become ill. People who are infected without being ill cannot infect others. Most people who develop the disease do so during the first years after infection. There is a greater risk of developing the disease if you have other conditions that weaken the body’s immune system.