46 TB cases detected in NMI in 2003

About 50 cases of tuberculosis were detected in the CNMI last year, afflicting mostly nonresident workers, according to the Department of Public Health.

DPH medical director Richard Brostrom said the 46 TB cases reported in 2003 showed a 13.2-percent decline from the 53 cases in 2002. More than half of the TB cases were detected in alien workers, he added.

While records showed that 20 cases involved CNMI residents, 13 of the cases were detected among workers from China, nine from the Philippines, four from other Pacific islands, and one from other Asian countries.

Brostrom also noted that many of the TB cases were detected more than two years since the alien workers’ arrival to the Commonwealth.

Ten of the Chinese workers and six of the Filipino workers found afflicted with TB had been on island for over two years before they were diagnosed with the disease.

Brostrom explained that a person may get infected with the TB bacteria and not show any symptoms for several years. “The bacteria could be inside your body, but it’s sleeping. From stress or bad luck, TB begins to activate,” he said.

In view of this, Brostrom said DPH is planning to eliminate the annual mandatory chest X-ray requirement for nonresident workers starting next year. Instead, DPH will require the test only during their first two years of employment, and then require the PPD skin test for tuberculosis on the third year.

In related news, Brostrom also reported that the CNMI Alien Health Program has been “an unqualified success” since its 1997 inception.

The Alien Health Program, Brostrom said, allowed the early detection of more than 400 cases of the infectious tuberculosis.

AHP has also detected a number of workers with HIV infection and directed them to care in their home country. Further, AHP has treated and cured hundreds of cases of syphilis.

“Thousands of contract workers have been diagnosed with treatable chronic diseases such as diabetes, allowing for prevention of serious health consequences,” he said.

Brostrom announced Public Health’s future plans for the program. Aside from phasing out redundant testing, DPH is also looking at improving TB care with latent treatment, shutting down clandestine clinics, and putting more efforts toward stopping the illegal importation of medications, malpractice prevention, pandemic flu and SARS preparedness, and bioterrorism preparedness.