Health Experts Dispel Leprosy, Tuberculosis Rumors
Last updated Friday, February 8, 2008 9:04 PM CST in News
By Bill Lonon
THE MORNING NEWS
There are no outbreaks of tuberculosis or leprosy in Northwest Arkansas, according to the Arkansas Department of Health, which released a statement Friday to correct what it called erroneous reports repeated all day to local, state and federal government officials.
"They (the reports of outbreaks) are not true," said Dr. Jim Phillips, branch chief of infectious disease with the state health department. "A lot of misinformation" has been circulated about both diseases in Benton, Washington and Sebastian counties, he said.
Calls were fielded by the Arkansas Health Department, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and 3rd District Rep. John Boozman's office, said Phillips. Also taking calls were the Springdale mayor's office and members of the state legislature.
The Health Department debunked reports claiming 300-plus cases of tuberculosis have occurred in the three counties. The number of cases statewide during 2007 was 106, the department said, with 21 cases were reported in Northwest Arkansas. No additional outbreaks are reported, Phillips said.
The so-called outbreak of leprosy, also known as Hansen's Disease, also is wrong, Phillips said. "As opposed to public perception, it is difficult to acquire an infection with leprosy," he said. The number of cases in the three counties is nine, and none are recent infections, said the release. All nine cases involve adults.
Of the world population "95 percent are genetically resistant to leprosy," Phillips said. "It is not very contagious and it has been taken off the quarantine list for years." Family members have lived with infected individuals "for decades," he said, and "practically no one" has ever developed the disease.
"The statement that we're on the verge of an epidemic is obvious that (those making it) don't understand leprosy," said Phillips. Both diseases are treatable with antibiotics, he said.
State health officials said leprosy is a substantial issue in the Marshall Islands. There are 6,000 to 8,000 Marshallese people living in Springdale, the largest population outside the islands. There are 867 Marshallese children enrolled in the Springdale School District, said Sen. Bill Pritchard, R-Elkins, recently speaking before the House and Senate Interim Committees on Public Health, Welfare and Labor.
The Marshallese have a federal compact with the U.S. government, which gives them the right to live and work in the U.S. without being subject to immigration laws. It also means they must do without the benefits of Medicare, nonemergency Medicaid, Social Security, food stamps and many other federally funded programs, according to Pritchard.
Marshallese residents of the U.S. pay taxes but have no benefits resulting from it, he said. This has resulted in Pritchard introducing Friday a resolution asking the federal government to help finance the problem with health care.
Pritchard is not happy about the false reports that took up public officials' time.
"Everybody needs to take a deep breath and calm down," he said. "There has been no outbreak. I don't know who put that information out there, but there is absolutely no evidence of an outbreak or an epidemic."
Phillips said the false report "just makes people panic. You can imagine the calls we get here, the CDC to Representative Boozman's office has been inundated today with phone calls."
Tuberculosis is spread through the inhalation of infected particles from an infected individual who is coughing, Phillips said.
Hansen's Disease comes from a bacterial infection, which investigators believe is spread through respiratory droplets. The bacteria may infect the 5 percent of the population not possessing a natural immunity. The bacteria can come from armadillos, which is the only animal that carries the organisms, said Phillips.
FAST FACTS
Tuberculosis
An infectious disease caused by bacteria that mainly attack the lungs. The disease is characterized by the formation of patches, called tubercles, that appear in the lungs and, in later stages, the bones, joints and other parts of the body. Tuberculosis is treated with combinations of antibiotics and is no longer considered a major health problem in industrialized countries. It formerly was called consumption.
Hansen's Disease (Leprosy)
A chronic and infectious disease, characterized by patches of altered skin and nerve tissue (lesions) that gradually spread to cause muscle weakness, deformities and paralysis. Some forms of antibiotics are now used to treat this disease, and plastic surgery can help correct the deformities it causes. Named for G.H. Armaeur Hansen, who discovered the bacteria in 1873 in Norway.
Source: American Heritage New Dictionary Of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Reader Comments (16 comment(s))
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ironfortified wrote on Feb 9, 2008 7:31 AM:
Weenie wrote on Feb 9, 2008 8:37 AM:
ironfortified wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:04 AM:
shoutitout2 wrote on Feb 9, 2008 9:21 AM:
lifer66 wrote on Feb 9, 2008 2:37 PM:
Just deal with this leprosy problem thoroughly and prevent an outbreak. "
justalocal wrote on Feb 9, 2008 5:46 PM:
However Human to Human leprosy is very contagious and people should take it serious. I don't believe we should be afraid of any race of people but should be aware that these disease do exist and cleanliness is our best defense. "
neato wrote on Feb 10, 2008 11:09 AM:
dragonfly wrote on Feb 11, 2008 4:10 PM:
gmason wrote on Feb 12, 2008 7:40 AM:
boomerang wrote on Feb 12, 2008 4:11 PM:
ozarks wrote on Feb 13, 2008 11:22 AM:
Not already registered?
fedup wrote on Feb 8, 2008 10:35 PM: