Screening Immigrants and International Travelers for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus

Abstract

Global strategies to control infectious disease have historically included the erection of barriers to international travel and immigration.^{1 2 3} Keeping people with infectious diseases outside national borders has reemerged as an important public health policy in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemic. Between 29 and 50 countries are reported to have introduced border restrictions on HIV-positive foreigners, usually those planning an extended stay in the country, such as students, workers, or seamen.^{4 , 5} Travel restrictions have been established primarily by countries in the western Pacific and Mediterranean regions, where HIV seroprevalence is relatively low.⁶ However, the country with the broadest policy of . . .