The Time of Reactivation of Tuberculosis in Expatriates in the State of Qatar

Objective: This is the first study to evaluate the time of reactivation of tuberculosis (TB) in the expatriates after the application of a screening program in 1984. Method: Follow up analysis of expatriates who arrived in the State of Qatar in 1993. The number of expatriates, as well as the date of possible death and deportation was identified from the medical commission registry and the State of Qatar Central Statistical Organization. The rate of notification was obtained from the tuberculosis treatment unit registry. Results: There were 32,134 applicants of which 23,842 (74.2%) were from the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia. The rest were from different parts of the world. Males account for 64.4% of the applicants. On arrival 669 (2.08%) applicants were found to be unfit, of which 67 (0.21%) were unfit due to tuberculosis and the rest for reasons other than tuberculosis. Active tuberculosis was found in 55 (0.17%). Tuberculosis notification rate declined from 0.17% on arrival to 0.03% in the first twelve months. This was followed by an increase to a mean of 0.05% for the next two years, then decreased to a mean of 0.025% over the next three years. Conclusion: The first 5years of arrival still a high risk for reactivation ofTB in the expatriates even though they have normal screening test on arrival. It is possible to improve this control of TB among high prevalence expatriates by application of preventive health care measures such as Mantoux skin testing, preventive therapy, and / or BCG vaccination for those aged under 30.