Epidemiology of Hepatitis A Virus Infections in Syria, 2017; War and Asylum Seekers: A Global Threat

Breakdowns of the 7-year war in Syria, especially in the health care infrastructures, such as water networks, and in the basic health requirements, such as public hospitals, emergency equipment from one side and emigration of the skilled resources from the country from the other side, has led to a disaster not only for the residents and neighboring countries but also for all other countries, which accept asylum seekers. Deficiency of national immunization programs and safe water has increased the risk of new epidemics of enterally transmitted virus infections like Hepatitis A virus (HAV) infection. Ringing alarms of a public health emergency must concern all authorized policy makers around the world. Vaccination against HAV, both for residents and asylum seekers, controlling the immune system of all other nations involved in Syria, fixing the water networks, and investing on infrastructures of the primary hygiene requirements would eliminate the risk of communicable infections in all the region.