Epidemiology on the Move: Comparison of COVID-19 incidence between migrant populations in transit and the local population in Colombia

Between 2020 and 2022, Colombia faced a significant migration challenge due to the massive influx of Venezuelan migrants and the transit of individuals from various nationalities heading to North America. Concurrently, the COVID-19 pandemic spread globally, prompting an examination of its impact on migrant populations. This study compares the incidence of COVID-19 among migrants in transit with that of the local Colombian population. Between November and December 2022, 302 rapid antigen tests (Basepoint Abbott COVID-19) were conducted on migrants in transit through humanitarian aid routes in Tunja, Bogotá, Cali, and Ipiales. All tests yielded negative results. In contrast, during the same epidemiological weeks (47 to 50), Colombia reported 20,744 confirmed cases and an incidence rate of 45.80 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. The study hypothesizes that the constant mobility and prolonged exposure to open-air environments among migrants may have played a protective role against COVID-19 transmission. However, potential underreporting and differences in diagnostic strategies between populations must also be considered. These findings highlight the need for further research on environmental factors as protective elements in future respiratory epidemics.