Infectious disease prevention among internally displaced people: Perspectives from Lviv, Ukraine

Abstract Background The ongoing war in Ukraine has increased the risk of infection spikes, especially among internally displaced people. The healthcare challenges in the war context necessitate teaching the population of preventative measures, which have become the primary vector of the activities of the Ukrainian Regional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Objectives The research aimed to highlight the activities of the Lviv Regional Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in relation to internally displaced people. Methods The research project analyzed the incidence rate of infectious diseases and vaccination coverage data among the population and internally displaced people in the region. The data were collected from monthly reports of CDC’s departments and alert messages sent by primary care institutions to the CDC. Results According to the Single register of internally displaced people (IDP), 13% of internally displaced people were permanently staying in the Lviv region (the second place was Zakarpattia region - 9% of IDP, and the third was Kyiv - 7% of IDP). In the Lviv region, 237,000 people registered as forcibly displaced. Total, over 700, 000 people are in the area, including the unregistered and 68,000 children. In 2022-2023, the morbidity rates among IDPs did not exceed the rates among the general population in the area. Each IDP residence place had its physician; 11 thousand IDPs were vaccinated, and 3,235 of those were children. In general, 46 mobile medical brigades worked on-site in the Lviv region. Only one spike of gastrointestinal infection was registered. CDC employees provided lectures and workshops on hygiene and food storage in 56 IDP residence places. Conclusions The review results show that coordination between CDCs, local physicians, and mobile medical brigades in the IDP residence areas prevents outbreaks of infectious diseases and swiftly responds to emerging threats. Key messages • The tragic events in Ukraine resulted in healthcare access issues. Lviv CDC, fighting at its own forefront, quickly assessed the risks and efficiently managed the potential hazards. • The Lviv region remains one of the biggest hubs in Ukraine for the temporary residence of internally displaced people, with CDC employees ensuring that preventive measures are effectively carried out.