Opinion : Illegal Aliens Jeopardize US Biosecurity

In the United States, Tuberculosis infection and disease occur most often among people born in areas of the world where TB is common, such as Asia, Africa, and Latin America. In most cases, these foreign-born persons become exposed to and infected in their country of birth and bring the contagious disease into the US.

Of all TB cases reported to the Centers for Disease Control in 1997 — the last year studied — 39% were in foreign-born persons. This is an increase from 1986, when 22% of cases were in foreign-born persons. Tuberculosis case rates were seven times greater in the foreign-born compared with the US-born population.

Also, foreign-born individuals now represent 46 percent of all tuberculosis cases reported in the United States compared to 27 percent of cases eight years ago. The CDC is currently processing new data on the illegal alien-TB connection.

TB cases come from Mexico, Philippines, and Vietnam, by and large. All people who apply for immigration and refugee status are screened for TB disease before coming to the United States. Immigrants with TB disease who are infectious at the time of screening are required to receive treatment before they are allowed entry into the United States.

However, the majority of those entering the US are illegal aliens who undergo no physical exams nor do they undergo treatment for their diseases.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the states with the highest numbers of multi-drug resistant TB cases during the last ten years were New York, California, Texas and Florida. These are the same states that are experiencing increased illegal alien populations.

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Opinion : Illegal Aliens Jeopardize US Biosecurity
Lincoln Tribune