LGBT COMMUNITY FACES TUBERCULOSIS HAZARD FROM ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT MINORS
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Somewhere over the rainbow, people with AIDS are dying from tuberculosis.
The illegal border-crossers from Central America have a high incidence of TB on their side of their rainbow, and are bringing it into the United States. One demographic that is particularly vulnerable to catching TB and should be made aware of this health hazard is members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community.
A new report published in the Journal of American Medical Associates shows that while the annual diagnosis rate of HIV—the virus that causes AIDS—has declined by one-third in the general population, the rate has more than doubled among young gay and bisexual males.
Tuberculosis is a particular concern for those with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). TB and HIV are what the Centers for Disease Control calls syndemic diseases which work together synergistically to cause death. A quarter of all deaths in persons with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) result from TB.
As the border crisis continues with no apparent resolution, more and more unaccompanied minors flood the U.S. are coming from Third World countries. Their health was not good when they started and has deteriorated due to the arduous journey. According to a Department of Homeland Security report, holding facilities for illegal immigrant children are becoming disease-ridden with TB, scabies, chicken pox and respiratory infections. After a stay in holding facilities, these children are being transferred all across the U.S. and they are taking their communicable baggage with them.
People with TB may not even be symptomatic even though they may have been infected by the actual bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Screening and diagnosis is also difficult, especially for AIDS patients.
A research paper in Biomed Central reports, “Tuberculosis is a global emergency predominantly affecting developing countries. HIV has been the single most important reason for acquisition of tuberculosis for many patients. Conversely, tuberculosis can result in rapid progression of HIV disease.”
When people are held by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), they are screened for TB, or at least they were in the past. Results are available for 2004 and 2005 in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine. In 2004, there were 76 positive cases and in 2005, there were 142. The case rate was 82.6/100,000 in 2004 and 121.5/100,000 in 2005. Of the total 218 cases, 184 were from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.
It is difficult to find numbers of exactly how many people are crossing the border and it seems no thought is being given to repatriating individuals who are sick. There have been reports that health workers are not allowed to discuss health conditions in the detention facilities. It has also become apparent that children are not the only immigrants. Some children are accompanied by their mothers and many of the children are actually young men.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has an Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) that is involved in welcoming the unaccompanied children and parents as well as any LGBT arrivals. ORR is partnered with Heartland Alliance International’s Rainbow Welcome Initiative.
ORR released early numbers for the period from January 1 to July 7, 2014 showing the count of illegal children released to sponsors around the country. Note these numbers are only for those children who have been placed outside of detention centers and the accuracy of the statistics may be questionable. Here are some examples: Colorado 221, Washington 211, Tennessee 760, California 3,150, New York 3,347.
posted with permission http://watchdogwire.com