2001 Refugee Health

•Communicable diseases of public health significance

•Physical and mental disorders with associated harmful behaviors

•Psychoactive substance abuse and dependence

•Other physical or mental abnormalities, disorders or disabilities

Exclusion Criteria for Entry into the United States


	There are a number of medically related systems in place to address the health concerns of refugees desiring to emigrate to the USA. The first is the overseas medical exam.

	Refugees, like immigrants, are required to receive an overseas visa medical examine one year prior to their departure to the U.S. The criteria for this examine is set forth in the Immigration and Nationality Act. The purpose of this examine is to exclude persons who have the above conditions-

	The quality and comprehensiveness of the visas medical examination vary. Because the examine is good for one year before departure, a refugee can develop infectious conditions after the overseas medical exam and before departure to the U.S. Likewise, screening for many other infectious disease such as malaria and other intestinal parasitic infection is not routine.