Avast ye, mateys! Beware o' the scurvy disease, named Tuberculosis, at the border! Doctors be shoutin' 'bout unruly 'drug-resistant strains'!
2023-07-25
Arrr! Ye scurvy dogs be listenin'! The number of scallywags with the dreaded consumption, claimin' more lives than any other foul malady, be on the rise in the land o' the stars and stripes! The goodly physicians be in a fluster, thinkin' that them fancy border tests might not be catchin' all the bilge rats.
Cases of tuberculosis (TB) have increased in the United States in 2022, and some doctors believe that limitations in testing at the border may be contributing to this surge. Tuberculosis is a highly contagious disease caused by a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs but can also impact other parts of the body. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) requires all refugees over the age of two to be tested for tuberculosis before entering the U.S. However, there are limitations to this testing process, and human error can also occur. Health departments are encouraged to share the results of immigrants' testing with the CDC, but underreporting is possible. Tuberculosis is common in Texas, especially in big cities like Houston, which is an international port of entry. Immigrants with positive screenings are given medication to prevent the disease from developing. However, there are concerns that immigrants may be bringing in drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis, potentially due to incomplete treatment with over-the-counter medications in their home countries. Tuberculosis can be diagnosed through skin tests or blood tests, and treatments are available for both latent and active tuberculosis. Medications are taken for several months, and if left untreated, the disease can be fatal. It is important for individuals to seek emergency medical care if they experience severe symptoms.