Sick Passenger on "Do Not Board" List Flies Out of Philly

[WriteDown]

Source: MSNBC

An investigation has been launched to find out why a man with an extremely contagious disease was allowed to fly out of Philadelphia International Airport.

The man, who's infected with Tuberculosis, boarded a US Airways bound for San Francisco Saturday, Centers for Disease Control officials said. U.S. Airways confirmed it was Flight 401.

He made it onto the flight even after being added to a "Do Not Board" list provided to the TSA and airlines from the CDC, officials confirmed.

The agency adds people afflicted with dangerous, contagious diseases to the list to prevent the spread of infection in the controlled air environment of an airplane. That information is then relayed to the TSA, which in turn notifies the airlines.

Sources say officials realized the man was not fit to travel while he was on the plane and that he was quickly quarantined upon arrival in San Francisco.....

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/34815230/ns/local_news-philadelphia_pa/from/ET

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How would you like to be on that flight?

[stray cat]

1. another minor inconvenience I guess

[Warpy]

2. If the man was infectious

the reaction to this is disgusting. Everyone on that flight needs to be contacted to go in for a TB test now and again in 3 months.

We used to put masks on TB patients just for a ride down the hall to Xray.

TB is no joke.

Of course, that's a big "if." If he's been on meds long enough to be non infectious, even though he's still very sick, then there is little problem.

[Diclotican]

4. Warpy

Warpy

Either you have TB, or you dosen't have TB.. Medication or not, TB Is an ilness who is really one nasty illness.. (I know some of my own familiy, my uncle and so on had the TB in the 1940s-50s..i know, its long time since they had it) but still, and even in the 1990s it was some of a sadness that he told me that, that he in his young years have had TB,). It is a real fear that TB are on the rise again in many parts of the world - at least in Eastern Europe, as many of the former eastern block contrey dosent have or have a flat out poor healt care if at all... In many country they even try to dumb down the ilness, becouse to admit that they have a deadly illness is "bad for reputation"... And even if they do take it serious, bad medication is doing more harm than good...

To put peopole who have TB, specially when they are ill on a plain is just dumbfolding and stupid. And not to say Dangrous for everyone else on board.. TB is maybe not that a killer anyome, as it once was. But that is still one nasty illness and not to take easy on..

And if they are on a "no travel list" by the CDC then they might not be that "little problem" at all??? Even I who are from abroad understand that you dosen't get on a "no travel list" by the CDC withouth a dam good reason..

Diclotican

[Warpy]

9. Not quite. After a few weeks of treatment, a sick patient

is no longer considered infectious.

Here is a fact sheet without medicalese: http://www.idph.state.il.us/public/hb/hbtb.htm

It is possible he is not contagious.

[Spider Jerusalem]

10. That doesn't apply to the drug-resistant strains of tuberculosis.

Which have thus far not spread to the US much, but are increasingly common in Asia. It isn't mentioned whether this person had XDR-TB; if that's the case the increased risk of contagion makes a big difference.

[Warpy]

11. No, that information hasn't been made public, either

There are too many unknowns here either to shriek with outrage or nod complacently.

[skepticscott]

7. It's especially not a joke

if it happened to be one of the highly drug-resistant strains, which are becoming more and more prevalent. The public health effects could potentially be as damaging as a terrorist's bomb.

US Airways probably deserves to be sued over this, but if they do, who knows what kind of reaction (or over-reaction) it might lead to? Will airlines stop anyone who's sneezing and coughing from getting on a plane?

[dugaresa]

13. I agree, if it was the drug resistant TB, then it is no joke because

it will kill.

[kestrel91316]

3. Oh, no. Please tell me it's not that European honeymoon asshole gallivanting around again.......

[MetaTrope]

5. At least he wasn't Shahrukh Khan

:crazy:

[SemperEadem]

6. How selfish and self-centered.

Clearly his need to defy his doctor and fly was more important than staying off a plane and infecting people.

He should be horse-whipped.

[stuart68]

8. As I have said and continue to say

airport security is a joke. So we have a CDC no-fly list and no way to monitor and enforce it ? I can buy a hot dog at a ballgame for $2 and the system can tell if I don't pay my bills, but a guy with TB, not that big a deal...

This is not a USAirways issue. This is an airport security issue.

[LiberalFighter]

12. Was he told he was not to fly?

If he was he should be prosecuted.

[cutlassmama]

15. To the fullest extent of the law. It's called "knowingly giving"

[sofa king]

14. Because he was the right color?

[Abq_Sarah]

16. This is sickening

From the msnbc link:

US Airways made the decision not to notify passengers who were on the flight, based on what the CDC told them -- that there is little-to-no risk of exposure on a flight less than eight hours.

The people on that flight, particularly those in his immediate vicinity, need to know.