01973nas a2200433   4500000000100000008004100001260001300042653001500055653001000070653002600080653001000106653002100116653002000137653002500157653001200182653003100194653001100225653001100236653001100247653001100258653002000269653002300289653002500312653000900337653001500346653001600361653001000377653001300387653001100400100001200411700001600423700001700439245008900456856004100545300000900586490000700595520092300602022001401525       1999                            d  c1999 Mar10aAdolescent10aAdult10aAnti-Infective Agents10aChild10aChild, Preschool10aContact Tracing10aCultural Deprivation10aDapsone10aEmigration and Immigration10aFemale10aHawaii10aHumans10aInfant10aInfant, Newborn10aLeprostatic Agents10aLeprosy, lepromatous10aMale10aMicronesia10aMiddle Aged10aPalau10aRifampin10aTravel1 aOng A K1 aFrankel R I1 aMaruyama M H00aCluster of leprosy cases in Kona, Hawaii; impact of the Compact of Free Association.  uhttp://ila.ilsl.br/pdfs/v67n1a03.pdf  a13-80 v673 a<p>International travel and migration will continue to contribute to the changing patterns of Hansen's disease (HD) in the United States. The majority of cases will be immigrants and refugees entering the country from leprosy-endemic regions. The Compact of Free Association, through its provision of free travel between the Freely Associated States and the United States without need for health screening, has created new public health issues. This cluster of HD cases in Kona, Hawaii, U.S.A., highlights the difficulties in detecting and monitoring the spread of disease in immigrant populations. This is a growing problem only likely to worsen in the coming years. In groups with cultural, language or other socioeconomic barriers, special and creative methods may be needed to tackle the problems of detection, treatment and education. Clinicians must remain mindful of the diagnosis of HD in high-risk groups.</p>  a0148-916X