CDC: 107 people on TB flights need tests

[Details]

The way I heard it, they were tests of if he is currently spreading TB, not if he had it. It's not uncommon (again, all IIRC) for a few tests to be negative, and a few positive.

 

[kgeaux]

I've also read that they're lying about not being able to afford a private jet - they say $100,000, but other sources say they could have done it for more like $12,000. I'm not positive about that, but it sounds about right. Looking online - most want more info than I'll give for a quote, but one was saying from $600 per hour - which easily fits into the $12,000 quote - and also fits into their family budget.

Not to mention that the CDC probably could have found a private jet to DONATE its services if this family had said "We cannot afford to get home any other way but public transportation."

This guy's story just doesn't have the right "feel" to it. I'm still thinking we're going to find out some more carp before it's all over.

 

[Liz]

The culture is still positive.

That's correct Buzz. I was reading about that in the article I'm linking. Here's a snippet pertaining to his 3 test TB test, which did come up negative:


Speaker has had two negative tests for the bacteria in his sputum. Results of the third test were expected late Monday or Tuesday, hospital spokesman William Allstetter said in a statement.

If the third test is also negative, Speaker would be considered "relatively non-contagious" and could be allowed brief, escorted trips outside his room wearing a mask, Allstetter said. But such a finding would not mean that Speaker cannot transmit the disease, and the bacteria could still grow in Speaker's lungs and sputum, Allstetter said.

Much more:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-06-04-tb-patient-culture-positive_N.htm

 

[Buzz Mills]

That's correct Buzz. I was reading about that in the article I'm linking. Here's a snippet pertaining to his 3 test TB test, which did come up negative:


Speaker has had two negative tests for the bacteria in his sputum. Results of the third test were expected late Monday or Tuesday, hospital spokesman William Allstetter said in a statement.

If the third test is also negative, Speaker would be considered "relatively non-contagious" and could be allowed brief, escorted trips outside his room wearing a mask, Allstetter said. But such a finding would not mean that Speaker cannot transmit the disease, and the bacteria could still grow in Speaker's lungs and sputum, Allstetter said.

Much more:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-06-04-tb-patient-culture-positive_N.htm

Studies have shown that 20% of the people who contract TB, contract it from people who have negative sputum tests.

Are you volunteering to sit next to them to prove your "relatively non-contagious" point. It's just like Russian Roulette, where there is only one bullet in the gun, but it will still kill you.

 

[Liz]

Studies have shown that 20% of the people who contract TB, contract it from people who have negative sputum tests.

Are you volunteering to sit next to them to prove your "relatively non-contagious" point. It's just like Russian Roulette, where there is only one bullet in the gun, but it will still kill you.

My point??? I didn't realize I was trying to make any point; and don't understand how you drew that conclusion.

I was simply quoting a portion of the article, as it related to my earlier (and uninformed) post today.

Sorry for confusing you.

 

[pedinurse]

Studies have shown that 20% of the people who contract TB, contract it from people who have negative sputum tests.

Are you volunteering to sit next to them to prove your "relatively non-contagious" point. It's just like Russian Roulette, where there is only one bullet in the gun, but it will still kill you.

nevermind.

 

[Nova]

nevermind.

Hey, pedinurse. I think you got a bad rap in this thread during the early pages when we were all trying to understand the first news accounts. Nobody had all the info then and those who attacked your conduct of your profession were out of line, IMHO.

(Sorry. I know this is late. Those early pages flew by so fast I couldn't find a chance to say this, but it's been bothering me that I didn't.)

 

[pedinurse]

Oh yeah, one more thing: the more I think about his decision to fly into Canada after he was fully aware he had XDR TB, the angrier it makes me. I think he had several other reasonable options for getting back into the US that he could have pursued. Even if you buy his story that the CDC refused to help him, he could have contacted his health insurance company (I read somewhere it's Kaiser) and asked them for assistance. Now, admittedly, that would be tough, but Kaiser apparently flew him on a private plane from Atlanta to Denver, so maybe they would have sent a plane to get him in Italy. Also, you can purchase emergency medical insurance for trips that covers the cost of transport back to the US in the event of emergency. Seems to me that since he knew before he left that he had a form of TB that could only be treated in Denver, MAYBE it would have made sense to look into such insurance in the event of a health problem overseas. Some of the articles make it clear that he had looked into a private jet and found that it would cost $100,000. As a last resort, he should have done this instead of knowingly exposing others to XDR TB. I have to believe that a couple of attorneys could come up with the money in an emergency. So he opted to gamble with others' lives instead of laying out a large amount of cash.

Not all attorney's - just like not all doctors - can come up with that sort of cash in an emergency.

Even though him and his father work together, he is a newer attourney. We also don't know how long his father has had a private practice or the state of their finances. Also, with the new regulations in reguard to banking, very large international transactions can be difficult to complete and are usually scrutinzed due to different laws (reguarding terror and fraud).

I just find it hard to believe that he would have taken such drastic measures to get back into the U.S. unless he had been told that they weren't coming for him. Also, I personally doubt that he would have followd through with his plans if he thought his family (including a young stepchild) and others would come under harms way as a result of his actions. He probably had a "what has changed" attitude about it all.

 

[pedinurse]

Hey, pedinurse. I think you got a bad rap in this thread during the early pages when we were all trying to understand the first news accounts. Nobody had all the info then and those who attacked your conduct of your profession were out of line, IMHO.

(Sorry. I know this is late. Those early pages flew by so fast I couldn't find a chance to say this, but it's been bothering me that I didn't.)

thanks. i really appreciate that - made me feel a lot better about that!

 

[Nova]

....I just find it hard to believe that he would have taken such drastic measures to get back into the U.S. unless he had been told that they weren't coming for him. Also, I personally doubt that he would have followd through with his plans if he thought his family (including a young stepchild) and others would come under harms way as a result of his actions. He probably had a "what has changed" attitude about it all.

I'm not sure what the correct story is at this point and I have no stake in defending Mr. Speaker.

But I can't help but noticing that we American posters--who are usually so cynical about federal bureaucracy--suddenly believe every word the Feds say in this particular case. (No, I am not defending Speaker ignoring the advice he was given, just noting that we seem to have different attitudes in this case.)

 

[twinkiesmom]

He's had three clean smears, but that's now, after the new meds, right? It doesn't mean he was this clean when he was flying.

 

[Nova]

He's had three clean smears, but that's now, after the new meds, right? It doesn't mean he was this clean when he was flying.

I thought his strain of TB was drug-resistant. Isn't that the point of this story?

At one report, surgery was the only treatment.

 

[JBean]

I thought his strain of TB was drug-resistant. Isn't that the point of this story?

At one report, surgery was the only treatment.

When a strain is drug resistent, it means they put it in a petri dish with several anitbiotics and see if any of them stop the growth. When none of them do, it is labeld drug resistant. But then, they try differnt combinations of these drugs and look for another combo of drugs that may work in conjunction with one another. or they use controversial drugs or test drugs. there are still alternatives available, but the usual ones are not effective.

 

[pedinurse]

I thought his strain of TB was drug-resistant. Isn't that the point of this story?

At one report, surgery was the only treatment.

yes, i think you're on the right track! we would have never heard otherwise about it if it wasn't xdr tb.

 

[Buzz Mills]

When a strain is drug resistent, it means they put it in a petri dish with several anitbiotics and see if any of them stop the growth. When none of them do, it is labeld drug resistant. But then, they try differnt combinations of these drugs and look for another combo of drugs that may work in conjunction with one another. or they use controversial drugs or test drugs. there are still alternatives available, but the usual ones are not effective.

They are said to bat .500 on this type of TB; at least that's what has been quoted. That means we still play Russian Roulette, but now there are three bullets in the six-shooter we are using. I don't like the odds. I'm thinking that, being that AS* is in a top notch TB treatment center, he has a much better chance of making it.

He has a lot to live for; he may get to work the rest of his life to pay for the lawsuits, should anyone else become his victim, let alone the inconvenience that 100's of people have to go through, because of his actions, for many years to come.

 

[gaia]

Well, Buzz, your post brings to mind something I just plain don't understand about this guy. If I had been told I had tested positive for this drug resistent TB, I would have nixed the wedding trip and immediately sought out the best place to go to try and get this TB stuff taken care of pronto! I wouldn't have risked lives (especially my loved ones!) by taking a trip overseas and getting married! That was preposterous to me. Just weird. My, albeit twisted, reasoning is I would be "cured" of this or I would be told I couldn't be cured after many attempts. If the latter was the answer, I could still get married, if I chose, but at least I wouldn't be putting my wife and stepdaughter at risk. This would be done under care and treatment. Because this man chose to take commercial flights and stay in hotels, etc., he put tons of people at risk and is going to be served lots of papers! He'll get the opportunity to "practice in his practice" because of his foolish behavior. Look, I know he says it wasn't clearly specified he shouldn't leave the country, but he's an educated man. How IGNORANT is he?

gaia

 

[Nova]

When a strain is drug resistent, it means they put it in a petri dish with several anitbiotics and see if any of them stop the growth. When none of them do, it is labeld drug resistant. But then, they try differnt combinations of these drugs and look for another combo of drugs that may work in conjunction with one another. or they use controversial drugs or test drugs. there are still alternatives available, but the usual ones are not effective.

Got it, JBean. Drug resistant, not drug invulnerable.

Thanks.

 

[southcitymom]

Looks like the CDC took it on the chin today:

U.S. Senator blasts CDC boss in subcommittee hearing
Says $3 million-a-year jet should have been used to transport Atlantan with TB

By ALISON YOUNG
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/06/07
A key U.S. senator said Wednesday he's skeptical of the latest reason given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for why the agency didn't send its emergency jet to pick up tuberculosis-stricken traveler Andrew Speaker in Rome.
At a hearing before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, CDC Director Julie Gerberding said the agency's Gulfstream III could not be used to transport Speaker on a trans-Atlantic flight because it is not equipped to contain a patient with a potentially dangerous respiratory disease such as tuberculosis.

much more at link

http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/2007/06/06/0606tb.html

 

[fundiva]

Not all attorney's - just like not all doctors - can come up with that sort of cash in an emergency.

Even though him and his father work together, he is a newer attourney. We also don't know how long his father has had a private practice or the state of their finances. Also, with the new regulations in reguard to banking, very large international transactions can be difficult to complete and are usually scrutinzed due to different laws (reguarding terror and fraud).

I just find it hard to believe that he would have taken such drastic measures to get back into the U.S. unless he had been told that they weren't coming for him. Also, I personally doubt that he would have followd through with his plans if he thought his family (including a young stepchild) and others would come under harms way as a result of his actions. He probably had a "what has changed" attitude about it all.

Most attorneys I know have credit cards with pretty high limits - both business and personal. They shouldn't have had a problem renting a plane and charging it. I'm sure they charged their rooms, airfares, etc with credit cards. Also, they're plane tickets back probably cost a pretty penny anyway because they weren't booked in advance.

 

[Texana]

Bottom line, he still seems to have thought very little of others, and much more about himself.

Poster Child for the '00 decade: Andrew Speaker: It's all about me!