Man With TB Allowed to Fly Cross-Country

(CBS)  A passenger with tuberculosis was allowed to board a U.S. Airways flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco Saturday and fly cross-country, despite being on a "do-not-board" list.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the passenger was detained after the flight arrived in San Francisco Saturday night and taken to a local hospital.

CBS Station KYW in Philadelphia reports that the unidentified male passenger was apparently placed on a "do-not-board" list submitted to the TSA and CDC on January 8, 2010.

Investigators are trying to determine how the noticeably-ill man made it through security checkpoints and onto the plane.

CDC officials said because the flight was less than eight hours, the risk to other passengers aboard the plane was low.

Tuberculosis (or TB) is a potentially deadly infectious disease that typically affects the lung, but can attack the rest of the body. It was once the leading cause of death in the U.S.

Symptoms include a cough, sometimes with blood, that lasts more than three weeks, chest pains, chills and fever.

[run2jazz2]

We have lost common sense in this country! Simply anyone with TB should not be in a confined space where they could spread the disease they are carrying. Anyone with some comprehension of "Do Not Fly" should have had the lighbulb go off in their head to indicate this. Good God, what is wrong with TSA and airlines folks? Please can these folks be this incompetent and if so then disban the TSA and allow for state and local authorities to do their own.

[cidaia]

If anyone gets TB and it can be traced to this guy, I hope he's charged with a crime.

I'm sure the law is already on the books, that makes it criminal to endanger others' lives.

[ibsteve2u]

On a somewhat more serious note, this was one ill man who was specifically to be prevented from flying.

Now if the planet ever gets a serious flu, Ebola variant, or you name it and you think you'll be safe because "the authorities" will prevent the spread of disease through the pathways opened up by modern transportation and "free trade", I have a bridge...heck, a Grand Canyon...for sale.

[ibsteve2u]

His itinerary could have been planned a little better - for instance, to include a hop into D.C. timed to coincide with the arrivals of bankers on their way to lie....eh...testify, that is, before Congress.

[newsworthy8]

This country is failing and failing, in so many ways..

[lmartink]

Anyone who willingly gets on a plane should be willing to take risks. The air re-circulates, the so-called "HEPA filters" on many planes are virtually worthless.

Nor can we really protect ourselves from individual terrorist acts. That is, not without becoming a Nazi-style Police State of horrifying proportions.

If you choose to fly, sit down and shut up. You take your chances.

[erasmus111]

I was watching a show and they were talking about the air vents above the seats. They showed the path of the air flow, and where it would reach, depending on the direction they were aimed at. The best position was aimed at yourself.

[cgirltruck]

Can we please stop using the "Nazi" word to represent bad things people do. It is overused and rather offensive.

[bobnjersey]

[A passenger with tuberculosis was allowed to board a U.S. Airways flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco Saturday and fly cross-country, despite being on a "do-not-board" list. ]

hey ... will the multi-million dollar full body xyz-ray machines be able to detect someone w/ tb? or how about some shotgun shells in a carry on?

maybe we need a multi-million dollar machine for every possible scenario ... a long line of them ... just so the govt, homeland security, and the tsa can keep us all safe.

[brianbwb-2009]

Other than the passenger, who knows he has a highly infectious disease, who is responsible if others on that flight, or on the next flight, or the maintenence crew that cleans the plane between flights, develops TB?

[libftw]

A very good question

[erasmus111]

IF the CDC did indeed have him on the "Do Not Board" List, then the person responsible is the person that sold him the ticket.

[brianbwb-2009]

Other than the passenger, who knows he has a highly infectious disease, who is responsible if others on that flight, or on the next flight, or the maintenence crew that cleans the plane between flights, develops TB?

[I_am_me1953]

Chalk up another good job and victory fot the TSA yahoos.

Their screening is superb. We should all feel much safer with the screners on-call.