[wagglebee]

"Americans should be told that diseases long eradicated in this country – tuberculosis, leprosy, polio, for example – and other extremely contagious diseases have been linked directly to illegals," Rep. J.D. Hayworth, R-Ariz., told the Business Journal of Phoenix. "For example, in 40 years, only 900 persons were afflicted by leprosy in the U.S.; in the past three years, more than 7,000 cases have been presented."

This is a frightening statistic.

[Gunslingr3]

"They're coming to be treated because they get treatment free and probably get better treatment here," he told Columbia. "Somebody down there diagnoses them and says, 'Hey, you've got leprosy, and your best course of action is probably high-tailing to the U.S.'"

Too bad the GOP is only interested in enlarging socialism and particularly 'free' healthcare. When foreigners read that the U.S. government has a $600 billion dollar prescription drug-giveaway the consequences should be obvious.

[wolicy_ponk]

If you want more of something, subsidize it...

[bikepacker67]

What did the leper say to the prostitute?

Keep the tip...

What do you call a leper in a bathtub?

Soup...

[Mark was here]

Folks with leprosy should mate with someone with Aids, then they will no longer have leprosy but Aids, then the government will protect them as an entitled minority, and prevent them from being quarantined, as it would violate their "civil rights". The folks with Aids can add leprosy to their list of woes, to petition the government with, to ask for more funding.

[Just A Nobody]

Pfeifer said he had not issued an official report on the dangerous trend, fearing that anti-immigration groups would become vocal against centers providing free health care for illegals.

How does one respond to that?

[joesnuffy]

It aint just leprosy folks...

Illegal aliens are the gift that just keeps on giving

Leprosy(Hansen's disease),chagras,(MDR)Multi-drug resitant tuberculosis,Hepatitis types A,B,C

Illegal Aliens Threaten U.S. Medical System

[Smarti Pants]

"Americans should be told that diseases long eradicated in this country – tuberculosis, leprosy, polio, for example – and other extremely contagious diseases have been linked directly to illegals,"

It's TRUE!!

My daughter just got sent home with a letter - she's been singled out as being someone in "close contact" with a student who's just been diagnosed as having tuberculosis!!

I wonder if this is another thing "Americans don't want".................

[ConservativeLawyer]

Illegals ping.

[JohnBovenmyer]

Fortunately only about 3% of humans are genetically susceptible to leprosy (Hansen's disease) and it is NOT extremely contagious. Treatment usually works well if patients will take their pills and start treatment before significant nerve damage occurs. The meds are supplied free in US, but the meds mainly used are old inexpensive ones affordable even in the third world. It has quite varied presentations and can be difficult to diagnose clinically, but once you think of the diagnosis a biopsy will usually confirm it. I've seen a few cases of it. It had been on the short list of medical problems the Feds listed as grounds to deny permission to immigrate; I'm not sure whether it still is so listed.

[GovernmentShrinker]

Leprosy is not easily transmitted. Only about 5% of people who live in the same household as someone with leprosy contract the disease. And it takes a long time to develop -- usually 4-8 years. I suspect this increase in U.S. leprosy cases is largely confined to certain immigrant groups from countries where it is endemic (most of whom already had it when they got here, but just weren't symptomatic yet), and is at least partly due to increased diagnosis (read: more free medical care to illegal immigrants). Also, it's now completely curable. So don't panic!

[Bennett46]

"We've had even a couple of patients from Cuba who were put on a boat by Castro just to get them out of the country ? they made their way here through Mexico and Central America basically just to get treated. ..."



Wait a minute here...the Hollywood liberals have been telling us that Cuba has the best health care system in the world.

Now why would these lepers need to be shipped out of Cuba if liberals are telling us the truth?

[rimmont]

The problem isn't so much with Leprosy as with a variety of other diseases brought in by illegals. California has been dealing with this problem since the mid 1980'S.

[chatham]

""There is no risk of an epidemic of leprosy," he told Columbia. "There's absolutely no risk that the few immigrants who are affected by the disease, if they are diagnosed and treated, will spread the disease in the U.S."

Great Line, if they are diagnosed and treated!!!!!

Does this jerk know that there are upwards of 20,000,000 Illegals have invaded this country and nobody knows where they are or how healthy they are..

Another great add to the Legacy of Jorge W. Bush and his do nothing Policy on the border..

I have voted republican an all my life, Never Again!!!

[raybbr]

"eewww" ping

[Chewbacca]

Why don't they just send the lepers to the leper colony in Hawaii?

[kcvl]

This is a frightening statistic.

Because it's true! Especially for TB.

[sweetliberty]

"Americans should be told that diseases long eradicated in this country – tuberculosis, leprosy, polio, for example – and other extremely contagious diseases have been linked directly to illegals,"

What a racist thing to say. < /sarcasm >

[shebacal]

Dr. Denis Daumerie, head of the World Health Organization's leprosy-elimination program, thinks claims of immigrants causing a spike in U.S. leprosy are overstated. "There is no risk of an epidemic of leprosy," he told Columbia. "There's absolutely no risk that the few immigrants who are affected by the disease, if they are diagnosed and treated, will spread the disease in the U.S."

...the few immigrants who are affected by the disease... So it's OK with him if some tens or hundreds of thousands of Americans get infected with leprosy and have to be treated, possibly crippled or scarred for life, because they would be such a small percentage of the population?.

...if they are diagnosed and treated... Well, we have about 20 million illegals here now, no-one knows who they are, where they are now, or where they came from, or how many came here with leprosy. I find it insulting and cavalier of Dr. Daumerie to be so negating and dismissive about American citizens' health concerns.

[Lazamataz]

Just dropping the body parts Americans won't drop.....

[MEGoody]

"Americans should be told that diseases long eradicated in this country – tuberculosis, leprosy, polio, for example – and other extremely contagious diseases have been linked directly to illegals,"

My son was sent to the lab for a random drug test. He had to sit around for an hour while an illegal with TB argued with the folks at the lab that he didn't have TB - their test had given it to him.

Secure the borders NOW!