State Rep Xiarhos calls for TB screening of migrants
State Rep Xiarhos calls for TB screening of migrants
"latent tuberculosis" has been detected at a Yarmouth hotel housing migrants
State Representative Steve Xiarhos has called upon the state Department of Public Health to screen migrants for TB and other communicable diseases and “that the public be made aware of any communicable diseases found within sheltered migrant populations”
According to the Mayo Clinic, Tuberculous or TB, “is a serious illness that mainly affects the lungs…spreads easily where people gather in crowds or where people live in crowded conditions.” The state is currently housing approximately 7500 families under the state’s Emergency Assistance shelter program, mostly in hotels and motels.
According to Xiarhos and Ed Lambert on WXTK radio members of the Cape state legislative delegation have been informed about "latent tuberculosis" cases at a Yarmouth hotel housing migrants, in an state DPH email that has yet to be released to the public.
The CDC advises that latent tuberculosis is “not infectious and cannot spread TB infection to others.”
Xiarhos said in a Facebook statement Tuesday that public notice is “essential so that local health officials can assure that the general public is kept safe.”
