Parasitic infections in Asian refugees in Fort Worth

This report describes parasitic infections recorded from April 1984 to December 1987 in refugees using services of the Fort Worth-Tarrant County Public Health Department. Infections with 1,601 parasitic infections were documented in 824 laboratory specimens obtained from refugees. Ascariasis and giardiasis were more prevalent than other parasitic infections. The highest attack rates occurred in refugees from Cambodia (70.0%), Laos (69.7%), and Vietnam (54.3%). Information from this study supports published data on high attack rates and endemicity of infections in refugees from Southeast Asia. Continued surveillance and treatment of these refugees should improve their health conditions and prevent the development of endemic foci in the United States.