In relation to recent news of an HIV-positive asylum seeker that may have infected people in Iceland with the virus, the Directorate of Immigration would like to make the following statement.
The incident is unique and it is very rare that asylum seekers that come to Iceland have serious infectious diseases.
All asylum seekers that come to Iceland are called up for a general health examination at a health clinic which includes blood tests and a tuberculosis check.
The Directorate has co-operated with the Icelandic health authorities and the police on the issue but it is not directly involved in the handling of the case. The Directorate made a decision on the asylum seeker‘s application in March this year and is now before the Immigration Appeals Board.