ABSTRACT
In contrast to almost every other crisis and case considered in this volume, this chapter demonstrates that on the whole health crises do not result in mass migration. Focusing on infectious diseases, the chapter shows that when people move as a result of such health crises, they tend to move over short distances and for relatively short periods of time, and often because of misunderstandings and panic. Where cross-border movements have taken place, it is often difficult to discern health from other factors such as poverty and state collapse as an explanation. International Health Regulations (IHR) contribute instead to an orderly and collective public health response that generally precludes the need for large-scale cross-border movements. Although restricting population movement is a largely ineffective way of containing disease, migration policies worldwide tend still to be predicated on the risk of international migration where health crises emerge, for example focusing on isolation and non-admission for nationals of affected countries.
