Canadian Journal of Public Health
Volume 93, Issue 2, 2002, Pages 88-91

Effectiveness of the immigration medical surveillance program for tuberculosis in Ontario (Article)

Uppaluri A. , Naus M. , Heywood N. , Brunton J. , Kerbel D. , Wobeser W.*
  • a Queen's University, Department of Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, 3013 Etherington Hall, Kingston, Ont. K7L 3N6, Canada
  • b Queen's University, Department of Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, 3013 Etherington Hall, Kingston, Ont. K7L 3N6, Canada
  • c Queen's University, Department of Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, 3013 Etherington Hall, Kingston, Ont. K7L 3N6, Canada
  • d Queen's University, Department of Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, 3013 Etherington Hall, Kingston, Ont. K7L 3N6, Canada
  • e Queen's University, Department of Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, 3013 Etherington Hall, Kingston, Ont. K7L 3N6, Canada
  • f Queen's University, Department of Medicine, Kingston General Hospital, 3013 Etherington Hall, Kingston, Ont. K7L 3N6, Canada

Abstract

Background: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) screens immigrants for TB and permits those with inactive pulmonary TB to enter Canada conditionally, subject to medical surveillance; we studied this program in Ontario. Method: This was an administrative database study with linkage of national and provincial data. Results: In 1994-95, 1,341 cases of foreign-born active TB were diagnosed and a CIC record was found for 1,095. 149 (14%) were classified for surveillance and 142 were included in the analysis. A significant proportion (39/142: 27%) were diagnosed either before or as a result of immigration screening in Canada. These persons had arrived as visitors or refugees and were excluded from further analysis. Only 21 of the remaining 103 persons (20%) with immigration screening before the diagnosis of TB adhered to surveillance. Only 1 of 16 (6%) eligible persons was given therapy to prevent future episodes of active TB. Most presented with symptoms (82/103: 82%) suggesting potential for TB transmission in Ontario. Interpretation: The current TB surveillance system for high-risk immigrants to Ontario is not effective in identifying and treating latent infection, and thus not effective in preventing future cases.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

refugee Population Surveillance human immigration middle aged controlled study data base Mycobacterium tuberculosis Aged screening test health program Humans Adolescent tuberculostatic agent male Canada female Aged, 80 and over tuberculosis medical information system symptom Article disease transmission Ontario antibiotic prophylaxis adult thorax radiography Emigration and Immigration high risk patient health survey
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036091980&partnerID=40&md5=aafa49be7d89086834a899f409d94c7b
ISSN: 00084263
Cited by: 12
Original Language: English