Tuberculosis (TB) trends in Connecticut mirror those of the nation. From 2000 to 2005, the incidence rates of TB among foreign-born persons and racial and ethnic minorities were higher than the incidence among Whites in Connecticut. The Connecticut TB incidence rate for 2000–2005 was highest among Asians (23 times that of Whites).As reported in the New Haven Independent Dr. Saud Anwar, chair of the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of the Eastern Connecticut Health Network, acknowledges the problem of TB but said it might be overstated simply because TB is a reportable disease and a TB test is required for immigration to the U.S. “
Tuberculosis in their home countries is higher, but there’s also a bias because we are looking for it more — when you look more, you find more,” he said. “In this study some of the sub-groups are very small, so the very high and very low numbers don’t mean much.”Anwar noted that other subgroups that are not Asian also have a high prevalence of TB and he cautioned against assuming that any group is immune from the disease.
"We have to be careful that we don’t take it for granted that the indigenous [non-immigrant] community is somehow protected from TB,” because it is so infectious. But he said if TB isn’t tested for in less at-risk communities, it won’t be found.According to Connecticut Health the report
"..can inform how key health decision-makers plan, evaluate, allocate resources, conduct surveillance, and make public policy"
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