Florida surgeon general asks if immigrant children are public health threat

[alp227]

Source: Tampa Bay Times

TALLAHASSEE — With thousands of immigrant children seeking shelter in a growing humanitarian crisis, Florida's surgeon general on Friday raised the specter that they could pose a threat to public health.

More than 57,000 children have arrived at the U.S.-Mexican border without their parents since fall, mostly from El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras. As Congress argues about what to do, federal health officials must find safe shelter for them. Some of the children already are in Florida.

In a letter to the heads of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Dr. John Armstrong wrote that "unconfirmed reports'' that immigrant children may come to Florida without receiving basic medical screenings prompted him to demand information about how many children are in Florida, whether they are being screened, and what illnesses they have.

"This information is urgently needed to guard the health and safety of Florida communities across our state and is vital to the well-being of those children from the border who may have come through the flawed federal system," wrote Armstrong, secretary of the Department of Health, an agency under Gov. Rick Scott's supervision.

Read more: http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/stateroundup/florida-health-official-asks-if-immigrant-children-are-danger-to-public/2189121

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Dr. Armstrong cited this ABC News report: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/07/exclusive-feds-struggling-to-cope-with-medical-breakdown-at-the-border/

Dr. Armstrong's letter: http://miamiherald.typepad.com/nakedpolitics/2014/07/rick-scott-admin-to-obamas-tell-fl-more-about-unaccompanied-immigrant-kids.html

[FarPoint]

1. I don't see why a physician with an expertise in Public Health pretends dismayed....

This is not a new experience for the state of Florida... Remember the mass flight of Hatian, Cubans to the US into Florida over the years? Same heath issues essential... Probably even a greater heath risk with the mass refugee landings...Aids, mental illness etc was rampant ...yet all was dealt with appropriately to my knowledge.

[mcar]

2. Exactly

My state sinks further into idiocy.

[PSPS]

4. Well, there is one big difference between then and now. (Hint: He's black.)

Plus, you wouldn't expect Rick Scott to appoint anyone but a "true believer." This "doctor" got where he is by his politics, not his medical acumen.

[FarPoint]

7. This doctor just spews misinformation and political propaganda.

Makes me cringe. I prefer a physician who practices medicine before politics.

[Fred Sanders]

17. True believer doctors are not uncommon and of course appointed a Bible thumper racist.

[Ineeda]

3. The most relevant health threat is,

IMO, the lack of a freakin heart in so many 'true-blue Americans'. The lack of empathy and ever-growing loss of humanity are the greatest risks to our society.

And a footnote: we should be calling these newcomers what they are: refugees. Not illegals, not immigrants, not aliens. They are seeking refuge, therefore refugees.

[ManiacJoe]

5. According to the mass media,

the children are bringing lots of medical problems with them. All are solvable, but it takes time and quarantine-type environments.

If the Florida SG has to ask, it shows he is not paying attention to current events.

[hopemountain]

24. thank you for perpetuating the media propaganda. nt.

[ManiacJoe]

29. If you believe there to be factual errors, point them out.

[totodeinhere]

6. Of course many of the people who are trying to raise fear about diseases that

the refugees might be carrying have an anti-immigrant agenda and they are just using this issue. We all know that.

But having said that, yes of course some of the refugees have health problems. Who wouldn't after having been through what they have been through? And yes the countries they came from do not have very good public health services.

But what the refugees need is our compassion and our support, not derision and fear mongering. And we do need to provide them with health screenings and those who need it should receive medical care as any human being is entitled to.

[awoke_in_2003]

21. Yep, they may indeed be bringing things...

with them, and like you say, we should help them get well.

[HockeyMom]

8. Florida has a Religious Exemption to Vax in Public Schools

I have worked with these kids. They were WEALTHY American children. Read between the lines of this.

[JCMach1]

33. And, of course, that threat is 1000x bigger than these poor kids

frak you Dr. Armstrong...

[randr]

9. Would it be outlandish to suggest that as many people fly into our country

every day without any health or disease screening?

[awoke_in_2003]

22. I don't think so...

I have only travelled out of country once- to Canada. They did not screen me going in, and the US did not screen me coming back.

[pinto]

10. Central America rates of vaccinations consistent with the United States (WHO)

“Children from this region of the world participate in comprehensive childhood vaccination programs, similar to the United States, and are generally well protected from most vaccine-preventable diseases,” ACF (Administration for Children and Families at Health and Human Services) said in a statement.

Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras each have rates of vaccination against preventable illnesses such as polio, tuberculosis, measles and pertussis consistent with the United States, according to the World Health Organization.

(Latest data on vaccination rates per country, according to Pan American Health Organization, percent of those vaccinated at link)


http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2014/07/exclusive-feds-struggling-to-cope-with-medical-breakdown-at-the-border/

[Blue Idaho]

11. He opened the GOP play book and followed the directions...

"Create fear, fear, fear, fear, fear, and confusion."

[blkmusclmachine]

12. +1. Has the Republican stench all over it.

[LoisB]

13. I don't remember this conversation when thousands of Cubans came ashore.

[hopemountain]

25. nor when the eastern block refugees arrived. nt.

[JackRiddler]

14. No, but politicians pandering? Definitely.

[jonjensen]

15. AmeriKKKa a christian nation in action

Notice bill o'reilly has stopped calling this a christian nation when he talks about getting rid of the children. And these god fearing southern states who used to proudly proclaim themselves part of the christian nation of ameriKKKa now only talk about deporting the children but at least not in jesus name.

[hangfire00]

16. This man I will not call him doctor has no buisness in health care,never mind S.G of FL

[KinMd]

18. Apparently there's a 21st century version of the Black Plague that stops at the Rio Grande.

[DhhD]

19. 2012 Law says that the child may not pose a treat to public safety. The children are to remain

in a detention center for an appropriate period of time. Republicans like John Cornyn are trying to get the 2012 law (in the link below) changed to send them home immediately. IMO taking children with active pathogens through an airport, could pose a treat to public safety; as Measels outbreak started at airports by children being deported to soon after crossing the border. See the last part of #7 below of the, failed to pass Congress, Dream Act Law of 2012.

http://www.dhs.gov/deferred-action-childhood-arrivals

You may request consideration of deferred action for childhood arrivals if you:
1.Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
2.Came to the United States before reaching your 16th birthday;
3.Have continuously resided in the United States since June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
4.Were physically present in the United States on June 15, 2012, and at the time of making your request for consideration of deferred action with USCIS;
5.Entered without inspection before June 15, 2012, or your lawful immigration status expired as of June 15, 2012;
6.Are currently in school, have graduated or obtained a certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a general education development (GED) certificate, or are an honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States; and
7.Have not been convicted of a felony, significant misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety.

Individuals can call USCIS at 1-800-375-5283 with questions or to request more information on the deferred action for childhood arrivals process or visit www.uscis.gov.

[mark eagledove]

20. who is going to cut that sugar cane? amazing how RW issue du jour is spead nationwide

and they all rehash the brainwash talking points and the corporate media dutifully broadcasts

what bullshit. all they have to do is fine people who hire them (mainly super wealthy Republicans) and immigration will stop. But they will NEVER do that. It's all about this disgusting, cynical fear-mongering. I hate these unAmerican people who own the press/t.v. even more than the pandering politicians.

[awoke_in_2003]

23. If they are sick, make them well...

it is the humane thing to do. But people just want to use this as a scare tactic.

on edit: How many Europeans came here during the 1900s with health problems? Probably a pretty good percentage. They were treated, not turned away.

[GeorgeGist]

26. Governor Scott is a threat to children and adults.

[FSogol]

32. The entire Republican mindset is a threat to children and adults.

Those republicans make me sick.

[onehandle]

27. Your guns are more of a health threat than all America's immigrants combined.

I suggest starting there.

[pfitz59]

28. the biggest threat to "Public health"....

is lack of UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE! Not a few thousand immigrant kids. plenty of homegrown American kids are as sick, or sicker than the folk from Central America! Stupid article. Red Button says "Push me!"

[WovenGems]

30. Get real

Those kids pose no more of a threat than the kids of local parents who don't immunize.

[freshwest]

31. Looks like Voldemort needs to expand Medicaid NOW. How else will they ever find out?

Since this isn't going to the core problem, it's just more political grandstanding. It's disgusting to see an alleged 'professional' sell out.

And by the word 'professional' I mean someone who believes what they 'profess' to have dedicated their life to accomplish, not just a paycheck.

Because the medical profession is involved in matters of life and death, those are moral issues, not political or financial ones - at least they shouldn't be.