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Article Columnist warns of unexpected diseases in the U.S. by Frosty Wooldridge Black Forest News March 27, 2003 www.blackforestnews-co.com In the past 40 years, the United States registered a total of 900 cases of the feared Biblical disease--leprosy. Virtually unknown to Americans in the last century, leprosy exceeded 7,000 new cases brought in on the backs of newcomers since 1997. Most of the people infected in America are immigrants from leprosy hot spots in Mexico, Brazil, the Caribbean and India. "And those are the ones we know about," Dr. William Levis, attending physician at Bellevue Hospital's Hansen's Disease Clinic. "There are probably many, many more." Now known as Hansen's disease, leprosy arrives with immigrants from crowded, poor countries with scant sanitation. However, its new presence in America has caused 11 clinics to sprout up almost overnight. In the past six years, Levis and his staff have proved that many patients have contracted the disease without leaving the country. A 73 year old man from Queens, New York and a Jewish man from Westchester County, contracted leprosy without leaving the America. As a result, the disease is now officially endemic to the Northeastern United States for the first time, ever. Leprosy's symptoms show in bumpy rashes, skin indentations and loss of feeling in hands and feet. They're usually misdiagnosed because the disease was unheard of in the US until recently. One man who immigrated from Guyana, 47, spent years looking for a doctor to cure him from the red and white splotches on his face and body. When he arrived at the clinic, no one had guessed his condition which resulted in the loss of one toe and some of the other. Because illegal and legal immigrants hired into food service, dish washing, cooking, hotels and day care, leprosy will find speedy access across the country. Another bug riding in the bodies of newcomers to America is tuberculosis. In a recent article in the Mother Jones News, Dr. Kevin Patterson, in 'THE PATIENT PREDATOR', writes, "Tuberculosis is back, and thanks to globalization, immigration and slipshod treatment, it's deadlier than ever. It kills 2 million people a year." Dr. Lee Reichman, executive director of New Jersey's Medical Schools National Tuberculosis Center, said, "We sit on the edge of potential catastrophe. Government won't take this problem seriously, doctors don't treat it, and the public thinks TB isn't sexy enough to merit attention. As it spreads, it will get our attention. Unfortunately, the new strains are resistant to all known antibiotics. It'll take at least seven years to develop new drugs." Even legal immigrants don't get screened under the age of 15. They slip under the radar. However, it's illegal aliens creating the crisis. Strains of TB once only found in Mexico have moved into border states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California. Since three years ago, 16,000 people living in the US developed TB. In 2001, nearly 40 percent of MDR TB cases were in New York and California. However, it won't stay put for long. It's found in overcrowded city conditions, but again, immigrants take jobs in the travel industry and fast foods. One illegal in Denver last fall at a fast food restaurant affected over 1000 patrons with Hepatitis A. No telling whom he would have infected if he carried TB or leprosy. Is anyone talking about it? Yes and no. Dr. Reichman's assistant, Rebecca Stevens calls on patients, but she, too contracted the disease. But most public officials turn a deaf ear toward more 'important' matters such as war and terror since 9/11. Where does that leave average American citizens? Simple. They are at risk and it's growing daily with 2.6 million newcomers each year according to the Center for Immigration Studies. I remember my travels in Asia to leper colonies where the disease 'creeps' over the body until the person is engulfed in puffy indentations. It made my own skin crawl. Can you do anything? Most Americans sit, watch, wait and listen until personally affected. By then, it's too late. For those who want to take preemptive action, it's time to call, write, yell and stomp your feet demanding attention from your senators and president. Call your local TV and radio station and demand attention be paid to this crisis. America is being overwhelmed by unrestricted and unchecked millions of newcomers. The irony is that we could import 10 million more each year and there would be 10 million more in line the next. Once they arrive, along with TB, leprosy, hepatitis, head lice and AIDS, it becomes our problem. The more extreme our numbers the more extreme our childrens' consequences. To take action, contact: www.numbersusa.com. Sources: 'CASES OF LEPROSY ON THE RISE IN U.S.' Sharon Lerner, NY Times, 2/20/03 MOTHER JONES NEWS, March Issue, Dr. Kevin Patterson, 'THE PATIENT PREDATOR'. Frosty Wooldridge, Louisville, CO Home |