Screening X-rays not enough for TB control

28 July 2008
Dr Linda Calabresi

Current screening for TB in migrants coming to Australia is inadequate, infectious diseases experts suggest.

Following their review (link) of laboratory confirmed TB cases in Victoria between 1990 to 2004, the researchers claim the results “raise the question of whether it is possible to eliminate TB from a low incidence country with ongoing immigration from high prevalence countries.”

Over the 15 year study period, there were 3191 confirmed cases of the disease, representing 77% of notifications, with the rate of cases rising by over 50% over the time.

Overall, more than 80% of these cases were in non-Australian born individuals, according to the Communicable Diseases Intelligence report. The highest proportion of non-Australian born cases have been from South East Asia, but the proportion of cases in people born African countries has been increasing, reflecting changing migration patterns.