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Infectious disease morbidity in the US region bordering Mexico, 1990-1998
Abstract:
The United States and Mexico share an international boundary approximately 3000 km long. This border separates 2 nations with great differences in health status. The objective of this study was to assess morbidity due to infectious diseases in the US region bordering Mexico. The incidence between 1990 and 1998 of 22 nationally notifiable infectious diseases was compared between border and nonborder regions. Disease rates, reflected as rate ratios, were higher in the border region for botulism, brucellosis, diphtheria, hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rabies, rubella, salmonellosis, and shigellosis than in either of 2 nonborder comparison regions. These data indicate that incidence rates for a variety of infectious diseases of public health importance are significantly higher in the United States along the Mexican border than in nonborder regions. These results suggest that an inadequate public health infrastructure may contribute to excess morbidity due to infectious diseases in the border region.
Insights
Infectious disease rates are higher in the U.S. border region with Mexico. This suggests that public health infrastructure may be inadequate, contributing to increased infectious disease morbidity.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The U.S. and Mexico share a long border with significant health status disparities.
- Understanding infectious disease patterns along this border is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess morbidity from infectious diseases in the U.S. region bordering Mexico.
- To compare the incidence of nationally notifiable infectious diseases between border and nonborder areas.
Main Methods:
- Compared incidence rates of 22 nationally notifiable infectious diseases between 1990 and 1998.
- Analyzed disease rates using rate ratios in border versus nonborder regions.
Main Results:
- Higher disease rates were observed in the border region for botulism, brucellosis, diphtheria, hepatitis A, measles, mumps, rabies, rubella, salmonellosis, and shigellosis.
- Incidence rates for several infectious diseases were significantly elevated in the U.S. border region.
Conclusions:
- Infectious disease morbidity is significantly higher in the U.S. along the Mexican border.
- An inadequate public health infrastructure may contribute to this excess infectious disease morbidity.