Open the borders, Import disease...

[hjmick]

...and epidemics.

This is disturbing news. It seems that there has been an outbreak of leprosy in northwest Arkansas. At least nine cases so far. Some of you may say, "Well, nine cases...that's not so bad. Certainly no need to worry." This attitude is understandable until you hear a medical proffesional say that he or she would be "shocked by even one case of leprosy in their entire career..."

The source of the outbreak? Immigrants from the Marshall Islands, home of the highest number of people with leprosy. Coicidentally, Springdale Arkansas has the highest concentration of immigrants from the Marshall Islands in the U.S.

There have also be over 100 cases of tuberculosis reported in the area.


Leprosy outbreak causes concerns in Northwest Arkansas

SPRINGDALE - The medical community is warning the public: a leprosy outbreak in Springdale could blossom into an epidemic, if something isn't done soon.

Doctors say at least nine cases of leprosy have been confirmed in Springdale. Local doctors say they would be shocked by even one case of leprosy in their entire career, so they say something must be done soon, in order to stop leprosy's spread.

Springdale MD Jennifer Bingham says, "my initial response was: I am shocked. I am shocked we are seeing this. It's a true reason to be very worried."

Medical specialists say the Marshall Islands have the most cases of leprosy, in the world. And the city with the largest number of Marshallese people, outside the Marshall islands, is Springdale. And Bingham says, it makes sense, then, that leprosy is spreading to the city. "It's from the Marshall islands; that's why we're seeing it."

...

Bingham says without cooperation, leprosy, which has no vaccine, and is transmitted through the air, will spread, and could easily become an epidemic. "People absolutely should be concerned. What I'm afraid of, is when people start thinking about it enough, it will already be out of control."

So now, Bingham, and others like Mayoral candidate Nancy Jenkins, say government help is the next step. Jenkins says she's angered the federal government has been so lax with border patrol. She says, "We've just opened the borders and said, 'Come on in! Bring your diseases! Bring 'em!' Why are we doing that? Those who have it need to be quarantined and treated, or sent back to their country."

Leprosy outbreak causes concerns in Northwest Arkansas (http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=7841296)

[gabosaurus]

Well, as long as they aren't Mexicans...

[hjmick]

Well, as long as they aren't Mexicans...

You know, your comment made me chuckle, but on a serious note, the Marshallese immigrants allegedly entered the country legally and still brought leprosy with them. This begs the question, what diseases and ailments are illegal immigrants bringing with them? And I'm not singling out Mexicans and Central Americans, there are many illegal immigrants from other parts of the world.

My guess is that the rise in cases of tuberculosis stem from illegal immigrants. There was a time when the American Lung Association had declared that TB had been wiped out in the U.S. In recent years we have witnessed a rise in the number of cases and more that one medical opinion believes the cause is directly linked to illegal immigration.

[gabosaurus]

You make some good points, but the mere fact that someone is an illegal alien doesn't automatically make them a more likely carrier of infectious diseases.
The comeback of many contagious diseases can be directly linked to the lack of health care. Many Americans fail to get their kids immunized, and thus become carriers of the diseases themselves.

[gabosaurus]

Side note: Avian flu was introduced into the U.S. and Canada by legal visitors from China. The two governments didn't want to offend the Chinese by screening anyone.

[JohnDoe]

But hj, i thought that LEGAL immigrants are screened for disease and given the proper immunizations before being allowed to enter our country? So like you, the part that they are LEGALS bringing in disease concerns me and makes me wonder what the heck is going on with our gvt to allow legals in carrying these kind of diseases? Shoot, who pays these suckers salaries, us? or the Chinese etc that they might offend?

jd

[Sitarro]

You make some good points, but the mere fact that someone is an illegal alien doesn't automatically make them a more likely carrier of infectious diseases.
The comeback of many contagious diseases can be directly linked to the lack of health care. Many Americans fail to get their kids immunized, and thus become carriers of the diseases themselves.

It is truly amazing how people like you will trip all over yourselves attempting to explain away and justify the plight of the poor poor illegal alien. You can't even acknowledge the simplest reason to get rid of these lawbreaking shits. This country doesn't need more criminals or lawn care losers. I know enough legal immigrants that truly love this country to know that the losers that are just running here to steal our wealth and send it back to the country that they pledge their allegiance to are scum and need to be eradicated from this country........ it's just that simple. And anyone that loves their country of origin over this one can get the shit out too, all of you african wannabees, go home(including that fraud punk Obammy).

[hjmick]

You make some good points, but the mere fact that someone is an illegal alien doesn't automatically make them a more likely carrier of infectious diseases.
The comeback of many contagious diseases can be directly linked to the lack of health care. Many Americans fail to get their kids immunized, and thus become carriers of the diseases themselves.

I agree, the nature of their immigration status does not make them any more or less likely to be a carrier of disease, but entering illegally makes it less likely that the disease will be caught before there is an issue.

Another contributing factor to parents failing to immunize their children, in my opinion perhaps more so than the lack of health care, is a false sense of security. So many of the diseases that were prevalent in the early days of this country have essentially been eradicated. For decades now there has been no fear of serious illness, and when one does arise, the common reaction is, it can be treated. With the advances in medicine, many people believe that doctors can fix anything.


Side note: Avian flu was introduced into the U.S. and Canada by legal visitors from China. The two governments didn't want to offend the Chinese by screening anyone.

Political correctness once again endangers the health, literally, of the country.

Perhaps everyone entering the country should either provide proof of good health or undergo a medical exam of some sort.

Okay, that's a tad extreme, but you get the idea.

I don't guess that there is an easy answer to the problem.