Human echinococcosis mortality in the united states,1990-2007

Background: despite the endemic nature of echinococcus granulosus and echinococcus multilocularis infection in regions of the united states (us),there is a lack of data on echinococcosis-related mortality. to measure echinococcosis-associated mortality in the us and assess possible racial/ethnic disparities,we reviewed national-death certificate data for an 18-year period. methodology/principal findings: echinococcosis-associated deaths from 1990 through 2007 were identified from multiple-cause-coded death records and were combined with us census data to calculate mortality rates. a total of 41 echinococcosis-associated deaths occurred over the 18-year study period. mortality rates were highest in males,native americans,asians/pacific islanders,hispanics and persons 75 years of age and older. almost a quarter of fatal echinococcosis-related cases occurred in residents of california. foreign-born persons accounted for the majority of echinococcosis-related deaths; however,both of the fatalities in native americans and almost half of the deaths in whites were among us-born individuals. conclusions/significance: although uncommon,echinococcosis-related deaths occur in the us. clinicians should be aware of the diagnosis,particularly in foreign-born patients from echinococcus endemic areas,and should consider tropical infectious disease consultation early. © 2012 bristow et al.