TB

[woodchip]

So by now you have all heard about the guy with the uber case of TB. Newsy's have all been promoting the horror of his actions by traveling around the world and potentially exposeing hundreds to his dread disease. Now, out of all the stories I've heard, I have yet to hear one ask the question, \"Where did this guy contract his TB?\" Now by all appearances the guy does not look like he was some debilitated wino living in some poor ghetto area and thus was at high risk. Quite the contrary. Even though his father-in-law works at the CDC in the TB section, the father-in-law claims it is impossible that he was the vector.
So to me something is fishy here. Putting on my tin-foil cap I say coverup. Someone dis-abuse me of this notion.

[TIGERassault]

\"Over one-third of the world's population now has the TB bacterium in their bodies and new infections are occurring at a rate of one per second.\"
To be honest, I think you might be making too big a deal out of this.

[Lothar]

Just the other day I watched TB or not TB. Sorry I don't have anything else to add.

[woodchip]

"Over one-third of the world's population now has the TB bacterium in their bodies and new infections are occurring at a rate of one per second."
To be honest, I think you might be making too big a deal out of this.

True but this was a rarer form of TB. And those 1/3 stats are not applicable to the U.S.

[Dedman]

I saw the question asked today as a matter of fact. The CDC IS wondering where he contracted it. The best theory at this point (so the man in the magic box said) is that he got it when he was in Viet Nam for a few months last year.

[woodchip]

Interesting supposition considering all the troops that served there that never contracted T.B.. Still wearing the tinfoil I guess

[Kyouryuu]

I think this guy has some nerve, personally. The danger of spreading these kinds of diseases it very real and the guy, a lawyer, comes off as a complete snot. One wonders if a real epidemic will be started not by terrorists, but by the stupid passenger who put his needs above the livelihood of everyone else.

[Flabby Chick]

It would be one hell of a suicide terrorist attack woudn't it. Infect youself with a nasty bug and go walkabout in the country of yor choice.

[Duper]

Life is like a box of chocolates... you open up and find a moldy one and ya run around like a chicken with its head cut off.



at least he wasn't infectious. (at least that's the propaganda)

[Grendel]

Interesting supposition considering all the troops that served there that never contracted T.B..

How do you know that ? Troops come w/ their doctors that know what you can contract in an area. Allows for preventive measures, early detection & treatment. Also, troops are screened before leaving a country (and taken care of if positive):

The tale led to some dread of the TB skin test everyone gets as part of an outprocessing physical.

According to the WHO the US had about 5 cases per 100,000 people in '04. Viet Nam about 118 in the same year. Does sound like a higher risk to contract TB to me..