TB-Infected Man Boards Two Trans-Altantic Flights

The CDC released a public statement informing the public that a man with extensively drug resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB) may have spread the disease to passengers and crew on two trans-Atlantic flights earlier this month.

The infected man traveled on two trans-Atlantic air flights and by doing so, may have exposed passengers and crew to the rare form of TB, government officials contacted the passengers that sat in the two rows in front and the back, according to the World Health Organization.

The infected man flew from Atlanta to Paris on May 12, arriving on May 13, on Air France Flight 385. He returned to the United States on May 24, on Czech Air Flight 410, from Prague to Montreal. The man then drove into the United States. He is hospitalized, in respiratory isolation, according to the WHO.

In a weird way, this could be great for the global community; I say that with hopes that this unnamed man did not infect anyone he came in contact with. The fact that this man was able to board two trans-Atlantic flights then across the Canada boarder to return to the USA is despicable and illuminates the trouble areas in communications with local, federal, and international levels of government.

 

Where was the plan? As the CDC, it is their charge to protect the people from infectious diseases. I find it ludicrous that after being put on the no fly list; he was able to board, not one but two, trans-Atlantic flights. Why was this so difficult? If I go to an ATM and try to withdraw money and I do not have the money in my account, I not going to get that money; I also would not be able to use my card to pay for things, because my bank would decline me. It amazes me that as we fast approach the seventh anniversary of September 11^th, that we are not where we should be on effectively working together on all levels to ensure that the American people are safe…

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