sensei:

Bringing up the medical condition of leprosy (Hansen's disease) and linking it to illegal immigration, is nothing more than an attempt to generate fear among the ignorant and uneducated. I think a few facts regarding this disease should be stated to clarify the issue.

1) Hansen's disease (leprosy) is not very contagious at all. 95% of the population already has natural immunity to this disease. Moreover, people with the disease do not have to be isolated or quarantined.

2) Hansen's disease is caused by a bacterial infection, which can be treated with antibiotics (dapsone, rifampin,and clofazimine). That is to say, IT'S CURABLE.

3) There may be pain associated with curing this disease, which can usually be treated with OTC pain relievers and/or prednisone.

Linking other illnesses like dengue fever, ebola, etc. to illegal immigration is also ridiculous. We could erect walls a mile a high around the entire country and shut off all illegal immigration 100%, but still be vulnerable to these diseases. It's more realistic that these other dreaded diseases could be brought into this country by airline passengers coming into this country to visit or vacation.

 

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While it's true that Hansen's is curable, treatment regimens are prologed (YEARS), and the therapies are not all so easily tolerated (e.g., dapsone will predictable drop the hematocrit of many people, and those who are deficient in the enzyme G6PD may simply be intolerant of the medication).  

 As a practicing physician I can assure you that ALL local cases of Hansen's (and most cases of TB) in our area stem from the immigrant population.  

Border security is a national security issue, and a portion of that is medical security.