HIV Infection in Migrant Populations in the European Union and European Economic Area in 2007-2012: An Epidemic on the Move

Migrants are considered a key group at risk for HIV infection. This study describes the epidemiology of HIV and the distribution of late HIV presentation among migrants within the European Union/European Economic Area during 2007-2012.

HIV cases reported to European Surveillance System (TESSy) were analyzed. Migrants were defined as people whose geographical origin was different than the reporting country. Multiple logistic regression was used to model late HIV presentation.

Overall, 156,817 HIV cases were reported, of which 60,446 (38%) were migrants. Of these, 

• 53% were from Sub-Saharan Africa, 
• 12% from Latin America, 
• 9% from Western Europe, 
• 7% from Central Europe, 
• 5% from South and Southeast Asia, 
• 4% from East Europe, 
• 4% from Caribbean, and 
• 3% from North Africa and Middle East. 

Male and female migrants from Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America had higher odds of late HIV presentation than native men and women. Migrants accounted for 40% of all HIV notifications in 2007 versus 35% in 2012. HIV cases in women from Sub-Saharan Africa decreased from 3725 in 2007 to 2354 in 2012. The number of HIV cases from Latin America peaked in 2010 to decrease thereafter. HIV diagnoses in migrant men who have sex with men increased from 1927 in 2007 to 2459 in 2012.

Migrants represent two-fifths of the HIV cases reported and had higher late HIV presentation. HIV epidemic in migrant populations in European Union/European Economic Area member states is changing, probably reflecting the global changes in the HIV pandemic, the impact of large-scale ART implementation, and migration fluctuations secondary to the economic crisis in Europe.

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By: Hernando V1, Alvárez-Del Arco D, Alejos B, Monge S, Amato-Gauci AJ, Noori T, Pharris A, Del Amo J.

• 1*Red de Investigación en Sida, Centro Nacional de Epidemiología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; †CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; ‡Department of Surgery, Medical and Social Sciences, Universidad Alcalá, Alcalá de Henares, Spain; and §Surveillance and Response Section, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, Stockholm, Sweden.  

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