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AP Photo/Karin Schermbrucker/PA File

Higher rate of infection among homeless 'put overall population at risk'

New data published in The Lancet shows much higher infection rates of TB, HIV and Hepatitis-C among homeless people.

HOMELESS PEOPLE are at much higher risk of contracting an infectious disease than the general population, putting community health overall at risk, according to a new study published online in the medical journal The Lancet.

The report’s researchers studied more than 40 research papers on the level of HIV, Hepatitis C and TB among homeless people between 1984 and 2012.

Despite variations by country and by region, the researchers found that homeless people have a much higher likelihood of having one of those three diseases than the general population.

In the US, TB is 46 times more prevalent among the homeless population, while Hepatitis-C infections are four times more prevalent. Meanwhile, in the UK, TB is 34 times higher among homeless people and Hepatitis-C infection is almost 50 times higher.

“Infections in homeless people can lead to community infections and are associated with malnutrition, long periods of homelessness, and high use of medical services,” the report’s lead author Dr Seena Fazel, a Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow in Clinical Science at the University of Oxford.

“Because absolute numbers of homeless people are high in some countries, improvements in care could have pronounced effects on public health.”

Dr Fazel recommends a proactive approach to identifying people with infectious diseases such as TB:

Screening for tuberculosis should be done through active case-finding – it should not be restricted to symptomatic people presenting to health services, which happens less and less in marginalised groups than in general populations.

Commenting on the report, Dr Didier Raoult of the University of Aix-Marseille said that “targeted actions are needed to address the susceptibility of homeless people to infection”.

“The risks of epidemics of infections diseases in homeless populations remain significantly higher than those in the general population in the same country. These increased risks are a public health challenge for a population as a whole.”

“Implementation of specific strategies to reduce these risks is crucial,” he added.

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    Mute Donal Ronan
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 10:32 AM

    I have a question, maybe someone is able to answer??.
    Why was there no reporting or mention in any of the media of this circuit court judges case in progress. Was there a gagging order?.
    RTE and all the other media were camped outside the court in Limerick on a hurlers case.

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    Mute CP
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 10:59 AM

    @Donal Ronan: Judge found guilty of sexually assaulting six young men while he was a teacher in the 1990s https://jrnl.ie/6257810

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    Mute Donal Ronan
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 11:02 AM

    @CP: Sorry CP, that doesn’t answer the question. ‘case in progress’, not the decision. Justice is supposed to be in public, except in exceptional circumstances.

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    Mute Dave Barrett
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 11:11 AM

    @CP: Should all the sexual assault cases he presided over and gave lenient sentence to people be re examined?

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    Mute BanIslam.
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 1:37 PM

    @Donal Ronan: So go ahead and be a journalist and stop bothering us.
    Most catho pedo aren’t reported about anyway. It’s filled with them in Ireland.

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    Mute CP
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 1:43 PM

    @Donal Ronan: I merely answered your question as to why they are no coverage of said case like you implied, it might not be to your liking but I’ve seen multiple stories about this case

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    Mute CP
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 1:45 PM

    @Dave Barrett: 100% they should

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    Mute Paul C
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 2:01 PM

    @Donal Ronan: I read abouts it on here earlier this week.

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    Mute Harry Whelks
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 11:46 AM

    Alarms advertise the fact that a house is empty for the weekend. They are very unlikely to be responded to by the police. Some incarcerated burglars also report that an alarm indicates that there is something of value within the property and can make it paradoxically more attractive as a target in some instances.

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    Mute BanIslam.
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 1:39 PM

    @Harry Whelks: It’s stupid. Alarm are a deterent for 99% of burglaries.
    Real bruglars who target real valuables do not target random houses.

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Dec 23rd 2023, 1:55 PM

    Workhouse jail farm or camp– houses minimum custody offenders serving short sentences with constructive work programs. BUREAU OF JAIL MANAGEMENT AND PENOLOGY ( BJMP ) It was created pursuant to Sec. 60, R.A. 6975.

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