Identifying Gaps in Research on Infectious Diseases Among Migrants in Korea: Implications for Future Studies.

BACKGROUND

The public health impact of infectious diseases among migrants is a growing concern. In this study, we aimed to examine Korean studies focused on infectious diseases among the migrant population in South Korea.

METHODS

We searched PubMed, Medline, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science for studies published between 2000 and 2024 that reported and provided quantitative data on infectious diseases in migrants in Korea.

RESULTS

Five studies met the inclusion criteria, focusing on measles, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and tuberculosis (TB). The seroprevalence among migrants was 75.3% for measles, 70.1% for hepatitis A, and 60.4% for hepatitis B which were similar to that of the Korean population. However, migrants showed a higher burden of TB, with 28.1% testing positive for latent TB compared to 19.0% for the Korean population.

CONCLUSION

Migrants in Korea exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of latent TB compared to the native population, while their seropositivity rates for measles, hepatitis A, and hepatitis B are comparable to those of Koreans. These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted screening and enhanced surveillance programs to monitor TB and other infectious diseases within this growing migrant population.