The Man With TB

One man can cause a lot of trouble for so many people.

ATLANTA (AP) - A man with a form of tuberculosis so dangerous he is under the first U.S. government-ordered quarantine since 1963 had health officials around the world scrambling Wednesday to find about 80 passengers who sat within five rows of him on two trans-Atlantic flights.

The man told a newspaper he took the first flight from Atlanta to Europe for his wedding, then the second flight home because he feared he might die without treatment in the U.S.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Julie Gerberding said Wednesday that the CDC is working closely with airlines to find passengers who may have been exposed to the rare, dangerous strain. Health officials in France said they have asked Air France-KLM (AKH) for passenger lists, and the Italian Health Ministry said it is tracing the man's movements.

He is claiming he didn't realize HOW serious a form of TB he had; his actions don't equate with the words of his doctors and other medical professionals familiar with this case. I think he knew, and I think he disregarded the advice. The CDC and medical community rely on the citizens to be honest partners when it comes to the spread of deadly infection. They may have to reconsider this blind trust now. The man is not being charged with any crime and I'm not sure why. This is turning out to be one expensive trip he took. A lot of people have been put at risk. Also, we need to learn HOW he was able to board flights after his name was put on the NO FLY list.