EU agency reports body lice cases among migrants

Two cases of louse-borne relapsing fever have been found among Eritrean asylum seekers, an EU agency said Monday and said it expected the number of cases to rise.

The Netherlands had reported two cases and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said more cases may be detected among migrants as they share routes from affected areas.

The agency noted a "risk of spread from infected individuals to homeless and other vulnerable population groups sharing the same living environment, particularly those in temporary housing in crowded environments," it said in a press release.

Migrants' living conditions during their travels to their host countries in the European Union make them more likely to develop body-lice infestations, the agency said.

Over-crowding and poor personal hygiene at housing centers are other contributing factors, it added and urged host countries to check for lice during medical screenings.

The agency recommended improved personal hygiene and less over-crowding in migrant housing.

Cases of louse-borne relapsing fever are today mostly found in sub-Saharan Africa, in war-torn regions where refugee camps are common, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Outbreaks result in mortality rates of between 30 and 70 percent.

The ECDC, headquartered in the Swedish capital since 2005, works with health authorities across Europe to fight infectious diseases. Endit