Dickie, TB is once again becoming well established right across Australia, not just in WA. It's often been reported that it was the halting of compulsory chest x-rays in the early 70's that led to a resurgence, although in 2005, the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System (NNDSS) received 1072 notifications, but 1022 were relapses, so the figure of new cases were relatively low. In the same year, 9,000,000 cases were reported world wide. Yet even though Australia has a very low percentage of TB affected persons, 5-6 per 100,000, the Government states that most TB infection is found in immigrants who make up 69%-83% of notifications per year, so these statistics are bound to rise.
A full summary can be found at............
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/Publishing.nsf/Content/cda-cdi3101b.htm
It makes for very interesting reading if you're into statistics.

JSB every country in the world has citizens with HIV/AIDS. Our rates in Australia are very low compared to most other countries because we have well targeted public education programs promoting the safe sex message, excellent treatment facilities and effective outreach programs to hiv patients and the communities they come from.

Safe sex education does reach out to African Australians, particularly the sexually active youth. Young adults too often have unprotected sex leading some to contract hiv here in Australia.

Contrary to your assertion, Africans, are just like every other migrant, must take compulsory pathology testing before being granted a residency visa to Australia. It's standard practice and it's also the law. I have spoken to several African refugee friends and they all confirmed that was the process before being granted travel documents - the pathology tests are done at a government nominated laboratory and results sent directly to the immigration case officer.

You have nothing to fear from any African, Indian, American or anyone else you meet in the street, at work or socially from contracting hiv. Your chance of possible infection increases from zero if you fail to use a condom, exchanging body fluids with a person who's hiv anti-body status is unknown to you.

JSB, it's time you boned up on the epidemiology of hiv in Australia instead of just relying on what your friend said. Your response comes across as ugly racist scare rhetoric with no regard to the facts.

China is not alone when it comes to exporting dodgy food. When Japan finally lifted their ban on the importation of American beef the first shipment turned up pronto.

Japanese authorities tested the cargo, rejected it and put the ban back in place where it remains still. Mad cow disease. Traces of spinal cord and brain were among all that lovely Uncle Sam steak.

You have to ask yourself why Australia would need to import beef from anywhere, but according to our shiny new free trade agreement we just can't get by without that American cow.

Worth the price to buy local organic in my opinion.

On HIV and Hep C among black African immigrants, nobody seems to have an opinion on HIV and Hep C among immigrants from anywhere else. Are these diseases somehow more threatening when black Africans are carrying them? Or does this have more to do with fear of the latest batch of new faces?

Why cant African refugees from Sudan etc. go to peaceful African states why do they have to come here? I know we have some kind of signed agreement to take refugees but I dont agree with it. I think its madness. Immigration should be undertaken with a view to the avoidance of mass ethnic cleansing (tribal warfare), that means sending refugees to countries where peaceful members of like tribes and religious beliefs live. All refugees including the Sudanese are fleeing from just such ethnic cleansing but do we learn not to throw tribes all together in one country? NO! We continue to do so; thus setting the stage for more of the same. Fools.

Presently there are some 27 million sub-Saharan Africans suffering Aids. Two million died in 2005.

It is predicted that despite the deaths of Africans from Aids, 34% of global population, by 2050, will be African. Is this to mean more Aids, more poverty, more wars, more environmental desecration?

How will these countries feed their people? How will we feed their people? How can productivity can keep up?

Rather than bleeding heart posters mouthing off about non-existent racists on this thread, they should be reminded that no nation can continue breeding in the manner of Africa, China, India etc.

Chinese citizens are now protesting and objecting to the one child policy, anxious to increase their numbers! I thought the Chinese were an intelligent race!!

These nations must take responsibility for the uncontrolled population explosions in their countries where free condoms are available and rejected.

1. To eliminate Aids: Use condoms
2. To eliminate Poverty: Use condoms
3. To save the planet: Use condoms

The continuation of human population explosions is seeing the destruction of our eco-systems, and an unsustainable planet.

Soon, thanks to these irresponsible increases in population, it will be every nation for itself. We will not be capable of assisting others and I suspect these nations out of desperation, will then revert to the rule of the gun!

Australian authorities have worked diligently to ensure a high standard of living for its people. Sadly that high standard no longer applies to our ailing health system and we can ill-afford to take on the terminal illnesses of people from other nations. These nations have failed to act responsibly in curbing their population growth and are seriously compromising the health and survival of all humans on this planet.

Fair Go, I assume that you meant me when you addressed "JSB".
Just because Australia's HIV rates are low doesn't mean we should import some.

My "assertion" that Africans are being allowed in with HIV is a fact. I have a close relative (not a friend as you mis-quoted) in the medical profession who has told me this. Maybe it's true that your African friends were tested but that doesn't mean that 100% of refugees are, does it?

Maybe you could explain how my revelation is an "ugly racist scare rhetoric with no regard to the facts", especially as I am getting the facts from someone in the know. Where do you get your "facts"?