TB Soap Opera

You couldn't have missed the headlines this past week, nor the news crawl, about Andrew Speaker, diagnosed with MDR TB before he left for his European wedding and honeymoon. Yes, he knew he had something really bad before he left the US. Most folks might opt to wait a bit and not fly...

Speaker, who was ordered to stay put and not fly once his XDR-TB diagnosis was confirmed (while he was in Europe), opted to fly quite a circuitous route home to avoid US no-fly lists. Turns out, as is well known now, "looking healthy" is enough to get US border guards to ignore isolation warnings when you try to re-enter the country. Then there's the likelihood of special treatment due to f-i-l working at CDC. Don't get me started.

So, this particular case (disease case, plus any/all lawsuits which will doubtless arise from it) will drag on for a while, and any news links I put up will be outdated quickly. Fortunately, TB is not easy to contract. Unfortunately, ~20% of XDR-TB cases are linked to persons who were "smear negative" (as is Speaker) and thus who might be considered "non contagious" by some.

What struck me over the weekend was the photo from his appearance on Good Morning America. It's Speaker, with his new bride (or maybe not, according to the Mayor of the town in Greece where the wedding was held.) She's holding on to and physically declaring her support of him.



All that's missing it a chart in her arms, or a nurse's cap on her head, and you've got a stereotyped shot from any soap opera.

Which is exactly what this will end up being -- a soap opera about wealth, privilege and a sense of entitlement. I'm glad so many holes in the public health safety net were exposed prior to this being an infected traveller with early avian flu infection.

And yes, for those who ask, preparation for a possible pandemic continues ... perpetually.