*anj* Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 http://www.kfsm.com/Global/story.asp?S=7841296 Leprosy outbreak causes concerns in Northwest Arkansas Posted: Feb 7, 2008 11:21 PM Dr. Jennifer Bingham Mayoral candidate Nancy Jenkins SPRINGDALE - The medical community is warning the public: a leprosy outbreak in Springdale could blossom into an epidemic, if something isn't done soon. Doctors say at least nine cases of leprosy have been confirmed in Springdale. Local doctors say they would be shocked by even one case of leprosy in their entire career, so they say something must be done soon, in order to stop leprosy's spread. Springdale MD Jennifer Bingham says, "my initial response was: I am shocked. I am shocked we are seeing this. It's a true reason to be very worried." Medical specialists say the Marshall Islands have the most cases of leprosy, in the world. And the city with the largest number of Marshallese people, outside the Marshall islands, is Springdale. And Bingham says, it makes sense, then, that leprosy is spreading to the city. "It's from the Marshall islands; that's why we're seeing it." Bingham says she is all for Marshallese people entering the United States, after proper medical tests. But whether they're immigrants or not, she says people must stick to treatment, when infected. And she says, when she treats those from the Marshall Islands, this doesn't happen. "We're not getting the compliance that is absolutely essential to take care of this process." Bingham says without cooperation, leprosy, which has no vaccine, and is transmitted through the air, will spread, and could easily become an epidemic. "People absolutely should be concerned. What I'm afraid of, is when people start thinking about it enough, it will already be out of control." So now, Bingham, and others like Mayoral candidate Nancy Jenkins, say government help is the next step. Jenkins says she's angered the federal government has been so lax with border patrol. She says, "We've just opened the borders and said, 'Come on in! Bring your diseases! Bring 'em!' Why are we doing that? Those who have it need to be quarantined and treated, or sent back to their country." Dr. Bingham is requesting the public take action, and write everyone from legislators, and presidential candidates, to Congress, and the Health Department. Shey says, "the only way to truly protect our community and our economic growth, is to think of this as a very important, panic-mode attempt to treat leprosy: before it gets out of hand." Doctors say leprosy will appear as a discoloration, or nodules, on the skin, especially the fingers, toes, arms, and face. With treatment, it is curable, but it can take from six months, to two years, to completely disappear. Springdale is also reporting over 100 cases of tuberculosis. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peggy in Ks Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 very scary! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom2GirlsTX Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Oh my :( I had no idea there was that large an outbreak in US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdWTMer Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 :eek: We lived near there at one time. My eldest son was born in Fayetteville. Right now I'm glad that I'm not there. Yikes! Still have friends in the area, I hope that none of them get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quiver0f10 Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Sorry I didn't see this and posted the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 Well, leprosy is now curable, so this is not the cause for alarm that the article seems to try to make it out to be (even though they *do* actually tell the truth, just hiding it a little at the end of the article). The problem is that they have a non-compliant population, and just as with tuberculosis (also briefly mentioned), you must have strict compliance in the treatment regimen if there is to be a cure. So others *may* be able to catch it from them, but unlike some of the drug resistent tuberculosis that is now out there, leprosy is still readily treatable and not resistent (to my knowledge). So anyone who does catch it would only need to seek appropriate treatment and follow it in order to be cured. Regena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted February 8, 2008 Share Posted February 8, 2008 I wonder which type of leprosy this is. There is more than one type, as I recall from a conversation with my dad once. Also, my understanding of leprosy is that it ISN'T usually highly contagious. Unless this is some different form than I was reading about many moons ago. Also, many people harbour the germ (can't remember which type it is) for many years before symptoms arise. But again, that may be for a different type. I do know that my dad had a colleague when he was working at Kaiser hospital who used to do surgery on people with one form of leprosy, but I'm not sure if that man is still alive or not. I think he may have been older than my dad. I'm not sure how accurate all this info is, and don't rely on the media for all the facts. BTW, that th drug that was in another thread that caused birth defects in some countries back in the early 1960s, is used for something, and I'm wondering if it was in certain types of leprosy. Now I'll actually have to email my dad to find out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mcconnellboys Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 Oh, do let us know. What you said about that drug seems to ring a bell with me, too.... I think you might be right about that.... Louisiana had what I think was the last viable leper's colony left in America, so I got interested in the subject while I was down there and talked to some locals all about it.... I'd like to know more.... Regena Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herding Cats in NC Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Thalidomide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Volty Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 It's strange and scary because it's an exotic disease and folks only really know about it from the Bible. We don't need Jesus to lay hands to cure it nowadays though. It'll be quickly contained, and should have no fatalities. It's a big deal for it's rarity in the US, not in it's danger to spread. With the CDC on the case, this thing is probably already under control right now. Don't worry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cricket1178 Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 It's strange and scary because it's an exotic disease and folks only really know about it from the Bible. We don't need Jesus to lay hands to cure it nowadays though. It'll be quickly contained, and should have no fatalities. It's a big deal for it's rarity in the US, not in it's danger to spread. With the CDC on the case, this thing is probably already under control right now. Don't worry. Thanks for putting my fears to rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted February 9, 2008 Share Posted February 9, 2008 I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Thalidomide. I was, but couldn't remember how to spell it when I posted! I still haven't emailed my dad, but I will. We don't communicate often, but he likes to discuss medical things as long as it's not personal. Update--I emailed him. Can't say if I'll hear from him as he's not a big writer, but I just might! If not, I can bend his ear when I see him next time (providing he's wearing his hearing aids.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deidre in GA Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 in junior high school i became fascinated with leprosy (Hansen's Disease) and did a great deal of reading on it. despite the biblical inspired fear of the disease, Hansen's Disease is not highly contagious. this outbreak should be looked into but i hope it doesn't become fodder for furthering irrational anti-immigration fervor. i get a slight hint of that in the article quoted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Storm Bay Posted February 10, 2008 Share Posted February 10, 2008 in junior high school i became fascinated with leprosy (Hansen's Disease) and did a great deal of reading on it. despite the biblical inspired fear of the disease, Hansen's Disease is not highly contagious. this outbreak should be looked into but i hope it doesn't become fodder for furthering irrational anti-immigration fervor. i get a slight hint of that in the article quoted. Yes, this is what I remember. I did email my dad, and he said it's been so long he really doesn't remember anymore. He is 74 and has became a surgeon in 1971, not to mention that it's not common. His former colleague stopped doing surgery on that a number of years ago, apparently. I do recall that our last discussion on it was related to dry gangrene vs wet (? not sure about wet.). It came up when I'd read an article in the Wall Street Journal (pre children!) about maggot therapy. Not a topic for the squeamish!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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