Screening for conditions of public health importance in people arriving in Australia by boat without authority.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of tuberculosis, hepatitis B carriage and markers of hepatitis C and HIV infection in people detained in immigration reception and processing centres in Australia.


METHODS
Eighteen-month survey of medical conditions of public health importance in people detained at the immigration reception and processing centres at Curtin and Port Hedland in Western Australia and Woomera in South Australia.


METHODS
7000 detainees (5742 adults and 1258 children and teenagers aged < 18 years) between 1 January 2000 and 30 June 2001.


METHODS
People treated for active tuberculosis; issuing of health undertakings to report to a chest clinic for follow-up of inactive tuberculosis; and confirmation of hepatitis B carrier status or hepatitis C or HIV infection.


RESULTS
Eleven people required treatment for tuberculosis (in nine the diagnosis was confirmed bacteriologically), representing a prevalence of 157 cases per 100,000 population. This rate is much higher than the incidence in Australia in 1998 of 4.93 cases per 100,000 population, but comparable with rates in the source countries. Health undertakings were issued to 973 people (13.9%). Of these, 682 (70.1%) were for inactive tuberculosis (26 in association with hepatitis B carriage or hepatitis C infection); and 156, 58 and two health undertakings were for hepatitis B carriage, and hepatitis C and HIV infection, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The health-screening program at immigration reception and processing centres detects significant numbers of conditions of public health importance, enabling treatment and surveillance to the benefit of the people detained and the Australian community.
King
K
K
Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Sydney, NSW. kathy.king@immi.gov.au
Vodicka
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination; D012036:Refugees / Q000706:statistics & numerical data