Translational Strategies to Control and Prevent the Spread of COVID-19 in the Rohingya Refugee Camps in Bangladesh

The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified the COVID-19 pandemic as a severe health threat to the global population. The disease is particularly concerning for the approximate one million Rohingya people living in 34 refugee camps in Cox’s Bazar district of Bangladesh due to many ongoing challenges with basic needs (e.g. poor living conditions, physical and mental health risks) and gaps in the response to COVID-19 prevention in the camps. According to the WHO, as of 2 August 2020, a total of 2,205 tests were conducted at the refugee camps and 87 dwellers tested positive; of them, seven have died. Although the incidence rate is currently low, epidemiological modeling estimates with a sample of the 23 camps suggest a mortality rate of around 1,500 Rohingya refugees per day. This estimated rate of mortality, together with existing challenges and gaps in response preparedness to COVID-19, warrants rapid and comprehensive preventative measures to control the COVID-19 outbreak and reduce aggravating the existing humanitarian crises in the camps. This paper highlights epidemiological insights into the need for a rapid response to the prevention of COVID-19 in the Rohingya refugee camps. It offers translational strategies at the community, health service, and political levels to help control the spread of COVID-19 among the extremely vulnerable Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.