Congenital Chagas disease: estimating the potential risk in the United States.

Economic hardship and/or political turmoil stimulated migration of Trypanosoma cruzi-infected population from Latin American countries to the United States and Europe; originating cases of Chagas disease were transmitted through blood, organ donation, and vertical transmission. Hispanic immigrant women of reproductive age in the United States coming from Chagas disease-endemic countries accounted for 2,384,644, and 5,841,538 in 1990 and 2000, respectively. Considering the prevalence rates for T.

Chagas disease: a Latin American health problem becoming a world health problem.

Political repression and/or economic stagnation stimulated the flow of migration from the 17 Latin American countries endemic for Chagas disease to developed countries. Because of this migration, Chagas disease, an autochthonous disease of the Continental Western Hemisphere is becoming a global health problem. In 2006, 3.

Prevention of blood-borne diseases in Bolivia, 1993-2002.

This report shows the outcome of a coordinated effort by locals, foreign institutions, and an international agency, from 1996-2002, aimed at preventing transmission of blood-borne diseases in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. From 2001-2002, testing the donor pool for HIV prevented transfusion of 32 infected units and 29 infections. With 100% screening coverage, 196 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected units were discarded, and 177 infections of HBV were prevented between 1999 and 2002.

Epidemiology of Chagas disease in non-endemic countries: the role of international migration.

Human infection with the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi extends through North, Central, and South America, affecting 21 countries. Most human infections in the Western Hemisphere occur through contact with infected bloodsucking insects of the triatomine species. As T.

Safety of blood supply in the Caribbean countries: role of screening blood donors for markers of hepatitis B and C viruses.

Background: Blood transfusions carry risks of untoward reactions, including the transmission of infections, such as hepatitis B and C. Proper blood donor recruitment and selection, and adequate laboratory screening for infectious markers diminish the risk of transfusion-transmitted infections.

Objectives: To estimate the potential risk of acquiring transfusion-transmitted infections by hepatitis B or hepatitis C in 24 Caribbean countries during the period of 1996 to 2003.

Safety of the blood supply in Latin America.

Appropriate selection of donors, use of sensitive screening tests, and the application of a mandatory quality assurance system are essential to maintain the safety of the blood supply. Laws, decrees, norms, and/or regulations covering most of these aspects of blood transfusion exist in 16 of the 17 countries in Latin America that are the subject of this review. In 17 countries, there is an information system that, although still incomplete (there are no official reports on adverse events and incidents), allows us to establish progress made on the status of the blood supply since 1993.