V B HANS,
- Professor, Srinivas University, Mangalore, Pandeshwar, Mangalore, India
Abstract
Infectious illnesses are a huge and ongoing hazard in conflict zones and among refugee populations. This is because frail health systems, population relocation, and poor living conditions all come together to make transmission risks higher. Armed conflict undermines vital public health infrastructure, such as vaccination programs, disease surveillance, water and sanitation systems, and access to medical care, resulting in the resurgence and proliferation of avoidable and treatable illnesses. Refugee camps are overcrowded, people are malnourished, they don’t have enough clean water, and they don’t have enough shelter, which makes them much more likely to get diseases including tuberculosis, measles, cholera, malaria, and acute respiratory infections. Also, impediments to getting healthcare, such feeling unsafe, not having legal status, and not having enough resources, make it take longer to get a diagnosis and treatment, which makes people sicker and more likely to die. Antimicrobial resistance is a developing concern in these environments due to disrupted treatment regimens and constrained diagnostic capabilities. This article looks at the epidemiology of infectious diseases in populations affected by conflict, the structural and social factors that lead to disease transmission, and the problems that humanitarian and public health solutions face. It also emphasises the need for coordinated action by countries around the world, better surveillance, more vaccinations, and including infectious disease control in humanitarian efforts. Dealing with infectious diseases in war-torn areas is not only a moral obligation, but it is also a key part of global health security.
Keywords: Infectious diseases, conflict zones, refugee populations, public health infrastructure watching for diseases, antimicrobial resistance
[This article belongs to International Journal of Tropical Medicines ]
V B HANS. Infectious illnesses in areas of violence and among refugees. International Journal of Tropical Medicines. 2026; 03(01):36-40.
V B HANS. Infectious illnesses in areas of violence and among refugees. International Journal of Tropical Medicines. 2026; 03(01):36-40. Available from: https://journals.stmjournals.com/ijtm/article=2026/view=245037
References
1. Gayer M, Legros D, Formenty P, Connolly MA. Conflict and emerging infectious diseases. Emerg
Infect Dis. 2007;13(11):1625–31.
2. McPake B, Witter S, Ssali S, Wurie H, Bertone MP, Namakula J, et al. Ebola in the context of
conflict-affected states and health systems: Case studies of Northern Uganda and Sierra Leone.
Confl Health. 2015;9:23.
3. Raslan R, El Sayegh S, Chams S, Chams N, Leone A, Hajj Hussein I. Re-emerging vaccine-
preventable diseases in war-affected populations of the Eastern Mediterranean Region—An update.
Front Public Health. 2017;5:283. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00283.
4. Abbas M, Aloudat T, Bartolomei J, Carballo M, Durieux-Paillard S, Gabus L, et al. Migrant and
refugee populations: A public health and policy perspective on a continuing global crisis.
Antimicrob Resist Infect Control. 2018;7:113.
5. Vitale A, Ryde J. Investigating risk factors influencing the mental health of refugee women living
with HIV. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(10):2326. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15102326.
6. Morina N, Akhtar A, Barth J, Schnyder U. Psychiatric disorders in refugees and internally displaced
persons following forced displacement: A systematic review. Front Psychiatry. 2018;9:433. doi:
10.3389/fpsyt.2018.00433.
7. Adams AM. Conflict and vaccine-preventable disease in children under five in the Eastern
Mediterranean Region: A systematic review [thesis]. New Haven (CT): Yale University; 2014.
8. Spittal PM, Malamba SS, Ogwang MD, Musisi S, Ekwaru JP, Sewankambo NK, et al. Cango Lyec
(Healing the Elephant): Gender differences in HIV infection in post-conflict Northern Uganda.
PLoS One. 2018;13(3):e0193700.
9. Patel SH, Muyinda H, Sewankambo NK, Oyat G, Atim S, Seeley J, et al. In the face of war:
Examining the sexual vulnerabilities of Acholi adolescent girls living in displacement camps in
conflict-affected Northern Uganda. Confl Health. 2012;6:5.
10. Mendelsohn JB, Spiegel P, Schilperoord M, Cornier N, Ross DA. Antiretroviral therapy for
refugees and internally displaced persons: A call for equity. PLoS Med. 2014;11(6):e1001643.
11. Leaning J, Spiegel P, Crisp J. Public health equity in refugee situations. Confl Health. 2011;5:6.
12. Su Z, McDonnell D, Cheshmehzangi A, Ahmad J, Li X, Šegalo S, et al. Public health crises and
Ukrainian refugees. Lancet Reg Health Eur. 2022;15:100352.

International Journal of Tropical Medicines
| Volume | 03 |
| Issue | 01 |
| Received | 03/02/2026 |
| Accepted | 04/02/2026 |
| Published | 20/02/2026 |
| Publication Time | 17 Days |
Login
PlumX Metrics