He doesn't have latent TB! He has active TB. He has a mass in his lung which is where they cultured the TB from. Although he is not coughing, he can spread it to others.
Where is it that said that the had a mass in his lung? In all the articles I have read, I have not seen that at all.
Reports have been that he has been asymptomatic, continues to be asymptomatic and that his AFB's have been negative. Of course, you and I haven't been clinically seen him - but all information points to the fact that the possibility of him spreading this is extremely low. I haven't seen anything about his chest radiographs (looking through the articles I have read) so I guess that I did make a jump there, which wouldn't be hard to do.
For everyone reading, basically, in this situation if he has a negative chest radiograph, then he has latent TB. If he has a positive chest radiograph, he would have active TB.
You can have a positive skin test, negative chest x-ray, negative physical examination and be asymptomatic. That would indiciate latent TB infection. Your provider would treat you agressively to ensure that you don't develop active TB. One of the big things here is that his sputum (lung secretions) is NOT showing the bacteria. Therefore, if he was to cough, breathe on someone, ect the likihood of there being bacteria that could infection you or I through droplets / airborne bacteria in the air is VERY VERY VERY low.
You know, I just can't get over the fact that this poor guy was living his life as normal until he left the U.S., then suddenly while he is away they identify that his strain is extremely resistant. Seems quite unfortunate. If someone told me they didn't recommend me traveling, I would take that as advice. If they said "Do not travel, it is dangerous to your health and those around you." I wouldn't leave. I am sure it was just a recommendation - they obviously thought he was safe enough to be in the public, and they did not make any effort to stop his travel from the U.S. even though they knew he had TB.
Poor guy asked to be put on the CDC jet to be brought home but they told him there wasn't money in the budget for him. Guys, I would have peed myself if I was told that there was no way to come home and that I'd have to give myself to the mercy of the italian government / healthcare system.
Personally, I'm more worried about the citizens of Atlanta that had repeated contact with him than the individuals on the flight. Yes, it is true that close quarters can make you more likely to get TB. But usually this is the case for people living in prisons, dorm situations (colleges - big outbreak at a college near where I live this past school year), orphanages (yes, especially Asia) and nursing homes. It's extended exposure usually - you don't just shake someone's hand or sit next to them in a resturant and get TB. They (the CDC that is) are covering themselves, and the CDC does not want to be treating a number of XDR cases if they can get a handle on any that might happen. Might is a big word here and it is unlikely. Personally - it seems that they are just making the point where they contacted him with instructions for surrender in Italy and notifying him that he had XDR TB as the "jumping off" point for exposure and monitoring of the general public.
*sigh*
We have privacy laws for a reason. I wonder who leaked his identity to the press. Woe be it to the HC provider who leaked it - if that's the case I hope they get him or her. I bet it was an aquantaince who put two and two together though. I feel bad - he'll be getting harrassed / hate mail for a while. Still can't say I blame him for trying to get back to the U.S. though.
Wouldn't want to be in this guys shoes in a million years, people. I truely sympathize with him. While I hope that no one gets sick out of this - and will of course, feel for them if they do as they are innocent victims - I can understand his motives. If we're putting armed guards outside his room just because (they have said that he has been extremely cooperative) - think of that the italian government might have done to a non-citizen. I don't know what that might be, but I sure would NOT have stuck around to find out.
