Higher Rates of Tuberculosis Among Class B1 Filipino Immigrants to Hawaii Compared to Nationwide, 2010-2014.

BACKGROUND

Immigrants to the United States from countries with a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) who have abnormal chest radiographs but negative sputum cultures during pre-immigration screening (TB Class B1) have a high risk of being diagnosed with TB disease within 1 year of arrival.

METHODS

Using 2010-2014 national surveillance data, we compared proportions of Class B1 Filipino immigrants who received a diagnosis of TB disease within 1 year of arrival to Hawaii to proportions in other U.S. states (not including Hawaii) using chi-squared tests.

RESULTS

In Hawaii, 40/1190 (3.4%) of Class B1 Filipino immigrants to Hawaii received a diagnosis of TB disease within 1 year of arrival compared with 220/16,035 (1.4%) nationwide (P < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

During 2010-2014, the percentage of recent Class B1 Filipino immigrants in Hawaii with TB disease diagnosed within 1 year of arrival was over twice that as nationwide.