More Illegal Mexican Immigrant Imports - Infectious Diseases (my title)

Medscape and WebMD ^ | 02/26/03 | Various

[Kieri]

(snip)

From Mexico's perspective, the border encompasses some of the country's most economically prosperous states. In contrast, the U.S. border region is among the poorest areas in the United States, with >30% of families living at or below the poverty level[8]. Along the Texas border, an estimated 350,000 or more people live in 1,450 unincorporated areas known as colonias, which lack adequate sanitation infrastructure[8].

The large population movement, limited public health infrastructure, and poor environmental conditions contribute to increased incidence of certain infectious diseases[8-11] Analysis of data from the U.S. National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System for 1990 through 1998 showed increased risks for certain foodborne, waterborne, and vaccine-preventable diseases in U.S. counties within 100 kilometers of the border, compared with nonborder states. These data show a two- to fourfold greater incidence of hepatitis A, measles, rubella, shigellosis, and rabies and an eightfold greater incidence of brucellosis in border counties than in nonborder states[11]. Studies have identified the importance of cross-border movement in the transmission of various diseases, including hepatitis A[12,13], tuberculosis[14-18], shigellosis[19], syphilis[20], Mycobacterium bovis infection[21], and brucellosis[22,23].

[mlc9852]

We have a large Mexican population where I live and I haven't heard of any strange diseases here. And I read the mumps outbreak was probably brought over from Europe.

[Sic Luceat Lux]

Ah, your reply to my #55/ where'd it go?