Tuberculosis in immigrants and visitors.
Immigrants and visitors are a significant factor in the epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) in New Zealand, accounting for an increasing proportion of notifications in recent years. At present screening of immigrants from countries with a high incidence of TB is inadequate. There are deficiencies in procedures, inadequate screening coverage, ineffectual coordination between the Ministry of Health and New Zealand Immigration Service, incomplete follow-up on those at risk of TB, confusion over financial responsibility, inadequate data to describe the problems and monitor interventions, and a lack of commitment to assistance with TB control in neighbouring countries from which some of our TB arises. We make recommendations in all of these areas. Timely screening of high-risk immigrants should be seen as health protection for ethnic minorities.
Harrison
A
A
Green Lane Hospital, Auckland.
Calder
L
L
Karalus
N
N
Martin
P
P
Kennedy
M
M
Wong
C
C
D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008403:Mass Screening; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011634:Public Health; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control