03309nas a2200313   4500000000100000008004100001260001600042653002100058653001900079653001400098653002400112653003900136653001900175653001800194100001400212700001200226700001200238700001200250700001400262700001800276700001300294700001800307700001200325700001500337245014900352856015300501520232700654022001402981       2024                            d  bElsevier BV10aGeneral Medicine10aClimate change10aMigration10ainfectious diseases10aNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs)10aChagas disease10aLatin America1 aHerrera C1 aNkusi A1 aLaney E1 aLane MA1 aSampath A1 aBhamidapati D1 aKitron U1 aPhilipsborn R1 aWhite C1 aFairley JK00aClimate drivers of migration and neglected tropical disease burden in Latin American and Caribbean immigrants: A pilot study in Atlanta, Georgia  uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667278224000117/pdfft?md5=ba4344cd4278a6a86610b5a75d85a650&pid=1-s2.0-S2667278224000117-main.pdf3 a<p id="cesectitle0002"><strong>Introduction:&nbsp;</strong>Climate change has negatively impacted the agricultural and socioeconomic infrastructure of Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries leading to conditions that promote human migration. It has also led to emergence and reemergence of infectious diseases. This pilot study aimed to identify climate-related drivers of migration and to describe the burden of climate-sensitive neglected tropical diseases (NTD) in immigrants living in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.</p>

<p id="cesectitle0003"><strong>Methods:&nbsp;</strong>First generation immigrants from LAC countries living in the Atlanta-metro area were recruited between May and December 2021. Participants completed a survey concerning demographics, socioeconomics, living conditions in their country of origin and living conditions in Atlanta, and motivations for migration. Blood and stool samples were collected to identify Chagas disease and soil-transmitted helminths, and skin exams screened for leprosy and leishmaniasis. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariable analyses of this dataset looked at the association between a climate-driven motivation to migrate and geographic and socioeconomic factors.</p>

<p id="cesectitle0004"><strong>Results:</strong>&nbsp;Fifty-seven individuals were recruited representing 11 LAC countries of origin. Most originated from Central America (n=32; 56%) and Mexico (n=13; 23%). Forty-two participants reported a change in climate or weather in their country of origin prior to moving and direct climate drivers of migration(e.g., floods, drought, etc.) were identified by 12 participants (21.1%). Infectious diseases screening found one definitive case of Chagas (2.5%) out of 40 blood samples screened. Food insecurity was significantly associated with a climate-related factor for migrating: aOR = 6.3 (95% CI 1.1, 35.5).</p>

<p id="cesectitle0005"><strong>Conclusions:&nbsp;</strong>While most participants did not directly identify “climate change” as a reason for migration, our study reveals many factors such as food insecurity, agricultural occupations, and region of origin that may underlie climate-motivated migration. Finding one case of Chagas was also noteworthy and shows the need for improved surveillance for this important NTD.</p>
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