The key role of population migration in transmission of tuberculosis (TB) was recently demonstrated in a genotyping investigation of TB strains from different ethnic and migratory groups in Taiwan.1 The experience of Armenia, which has a large migratory population due to economic reasons further highlights the multi-facet impact of population migration on TB and TB control in the era of globalization.
Armenia became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. Due to limited domestic job opportunity, a significant proportion of young Armenians rely on working temporarily abroad to earn the living (i.e. migratory workers). High poverty rate, high migration rate, and limited healthcare system act in synergism to rapidly raise the TB burden in Armenia (Fig. 1).2, 3 Situation continued to worsen until 2005, when the TB incidence and mortality finally stabilized. Many empirical studies identified cross-countries migratory work as one of the reasons behind this increase in the TB burden in Armenia. This perspective article summarizes these research findings.
