Epidemiology Report

The current technique used to test immigrants for tuberculosis (TB) is insufficient; this is according to a report composed by a group of researchers entitled, ‘Epidemiology of laboratory confirmed tuberculosis in Victoria, 1990 to 2004.’

In terms of current law, Australian immigration requires all those moving to Australia to be tested for TB via an x-ray. Although a positive result does cause outright visa refusal, but the application will not be processed until the TB has been treated.

Despite this 80% of TB sufferers in Australia are non-Australian born immigrants. This, it has been suggested is due to the techniques were cases of latent TB are likely to be missed. And it is due to this that researchers believe that the current system needs to be amended.

The researchers therefore propose that testing for latent TB should take place and follow-up consultations should be encouraged post arrival in Australia.