Latin immigrants raise parasite risk

Washington Times ^ | 2/06/04 | Joyce Howard Price

[kattracks]

The rising migration of Latin people to the United States increases the potential number of cases of a deadly parasitic infectious disease, common in the Southern Hemisphere, that is spread by blood transfusions.

The American Red Cross estimates that, nationally, the risk of a blood donor having antibodies to Chagas or being infected with the disease is 1 in 25,000. The same risk is 1 in 5,400 in Los Angeles and 1 in 9,000 in Miami.

[janetgreen]

In the past the government had sense enough to give medical examinations to immigrants before they were allowed to live in our country. Now with millions of illegal aliens being allowed to come and go as they please, diseases like this one that we've never heard of will be rampant, and diseases that we stamped out years ago will return.

Our government is committing a horrendous crime against America by allowing this invasion by third world countries.

[Indie]

Power and money is what drives attorneys...the "leaders" of our country. [virtually everyone in Congress] I feel attorneys should be banned from public service. Our people are in grave danger and they could care less.

[Captainpaintball]

Bring us your tired, your poor, your emboldened masses infected with TB...

The wretched refuse of all other shores...
Send these, who work the system, no matter the cost to me...
I empty my pockets and open my doors!"

[cavtrooper21]

Reduviid.

Would those be the "kissing bugs" most often found in the American southwest??

[azhenfud]

PING

It's not just the money we're being duped out of by Illegaliens - it's the health risks also....

[gubamyster]

ping

[Sabertooth]

The rising migration of Latin people to the United States increases the potential number of cases of a deadly parasitic infectious disease, common in the Southern Hemisphere, that is spread by blood transfusions.

The danger is real, but the headline is unfortunate.

[janetgreen]

Immigration attorneys (and some politicians) - shark bait.

[Bikers4Bush]

Oh joy, so not only do they bring the crime associated with the smuggling and poverty of illegals but they're bringing deadly blood critters as well.

The entire federal government should be tried for treason if we have an epidemic of any kind.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

They raise the risk for every damned disease under the sun. Three years ago, the DFW metroplex became home to a new bug, an upper respiratory thing that lasts and lasts, stronger than a round or Zpack. Feels like an cold, then the flu, then allergies, then a cold, etc... I've lived here all my life, and this thing only showed up recently. Coincidentally or not, back a few years ago, an attentive observer could notice an increasing number of "recent immigrants" sitting like a sack of taters, obviously ill, in places like the barber shop, laundromat, horking up mouthfuls of infected phlegm.

The issue of importing diseases into our crowded cities is the one issue I'm watching as the ultimate barometer of how the American public will deal with illegal immigration. Jobs, driver's lisences, voting...to the extent that those are issues, they aren't personal like an unprecedented sinus infection that will not go away. If we don't respond aggressively and decisively (whatever that means, in the long run) to this threat to our very bodily health, then we deserve to vanish like other native populations erased by imported disease.

[swampfox98]

The danger is real, but the headline is unfortunate.

I agree. The headline alone is enough to get a loyal Freeper sent to that great illegal Freeperville in the sky.

[Semaphore Heathcliffe]

This is also the one issue that could finally awaken the more sensitive of our citizens (Soccer Moms, for example) to the realities of what the heck is going on. No decent mother will turn a blind eye to potential health risks to her children. 'Course, this all presumes that at some point, real figures of "new, unprecedent, exotic" infections liked to illegals will become commonplace in the PC media. Not holding my breath, since most immigrant-related news stories still are designed to elicit sympathy for the immigrants.

Your vote is being countered by that of an illegal, your car insurance is going through the roof because uninsured illegals are flooding our streets, you're getting sick in strange and unusual ways because illegals are bringing in diseases for which you have no immunity. And your politicians feign ignorance as they pander for votes and cheap labor.

[TruthNtegrity]

TB, now Chagas and Heaven only knows what else?

I want them all sent home and I want the borders closed.

This has gotten ridiculous.

Maybe we can find a way to use Attornies to our advantage? Start suing somebody - anybody over these illegals. "Latin" my ass. These are Hispanic illegal aliens doing this to us.

Just damn.

[skeeter]

In the past the government had sense enough to give medical examinations to immigrants before they were allowed to live in our country.

Just how do you propose to PAY for medical examinations to 3+ million immigrants each year??/sarcasm

[Paulie]

What's the problem? They're only bringing in the diseases that Americans can't come down with on their own! This is great! C'mon people, lighten up!

Now, let's repeat after that great defender of American security, Mr. Thomas Ridge: "We CAN'T do anything about it because of political and cultural differences".

[B4Ranch]

No mention of the reintroduction of tuberculosis or increase of lice infestations in the school classrooms. He left out the rising statistics of syphilis, Gomorrah, numerous stomach, upper and lower tract worms.

Just the extras they bring with them for our diversity.

[North Coast Conservative]

Not trying to be the bearer of bad tidings, or be the spreader of alarm, this is but another reason why the tide of illegal immigration across ANY of our borders should be turned back.

In God We Trust…..Semper Fi!

[Warrior Nurse]

Here is your weapon of mass distruction Chagus, TB, Hunta virus, Dengue Fever, Cholera. What happens if a buch of infected illegals cross the borders a defacto "dirty bomb" if you will. It maybe time to invoke passe comatatus(sp)