Expert urges health screens for Ukrainians in Denmark

Professor Christian Morberg Wejse, a specialist in global health at Aarhus University Hospital, suggests screening Ukrainian refugees in Denmark for infectious diseases, notably tuberculosis (TB), which is ten times more prevalent in Ukraine than in Denmark. The country also faces a significant issue of TB drug resistance, requiring alternative, less effective treatments. In 2022, three TB cases were reported among Ukrainian refugees in Denmark, with at least one resistant strain identified. Wejse warns of potential underreporting without screening, and points out that Denmark ceased mandatory screening for refugees in 2015. A research project indicated twice as many TB cases among Ukrainians in countries that screen compared to those that do not, suggesting possible undetected infections in Denmark. Wejse emphasizes the need for targeted efforts due to the contagious nature of TB, which on average could spread from one patient to five to ten others.