Publications

Global displacement has reached unprecedented levels, exposing millions to heightened infectious disease risks driven by overcrowding, inadequate water and sanitation systems, disrupted health services, and fragile surveillance mechanisms. This narrative review synthesizes current evidence on the epidemiological dynamics of infectious diseases in displaced populations and evaluates priority interventions for control. Population movement, whether to camps, informal settlements, or urban areas, transforms disease transmission patterns through altered mobility, contact structures, and environmental exposures. Common threats include airborne, fecal-oral, vectorborne, and vaccine-preventable diseases, often amplified by limited healthcare capacity and surveillance gaps. The review highlights operational challenges in data collection, early warning systems, laboratory confirmation, and health workforce constraints. It examines the role of targeted public health interventions such as vaccination, WASH improvements, infection prevention and control (IPC), case management, and integration with host health systems. Additionally, it explores the use of modelling tools and scenario planning to estimate disease spread and assess intervention impact under conditions of uncertainty. Ethical, equity, and resource-allocation considerations remain central to protecting vulnerable groups, particularly children, pregnant women, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. Persistent research gaps underscore the urgent need for improved surveillance systems, mobilitycentred epidemiological models, and evidence-based policies that strengthen resilience in both displaced and host communities. By consolidating multidisciplinary insights, this review provides a comprehensive framework for anticipating infectious disease threats and guiding effective, context-sensitive responses in displacement settings.