Tuberculosis

When I hear the word tuberculosis I get nervous. I know it is a disease I do not want to get. It seems we are hearing more and more about tuberculosis. We hear about people who are quarantined because of a case of drug resistant tuberculosis. Sometimes those people don't abide by the rules they are given and then they are forced into a quarantine that is enforced by an official entity.

Two cases:

One was of an engaged couple. The man had a case of extensively drug-resistant TB. He was supposed to be under house quarantine. But he wanted to have a nice honeymoon after he got married. So he went to Europe and then Canada anyway - staying just ahead of the people who were chasing him. They were trying to detain him in order to try to avoid exposing the unsuspecting public. All airports and border agents were notified about the couple and were instructed to detain them when they were spotted. Despite the publicity they were able to take several flights and some other modes of transportation which possibly exposed lots of innocent people to his disease. The officials were trying to detain the couple to minimize the danger to others. Well, somehow they even managed to drive across the border from Canada to New York. The U.S. Homeland Security was involved in investigating the incident. Anyway, they were eventually located when they came back into the USA. He will be in treatment for at least 2 years and will possibly need to have surgery to remove the diseased tissue in his body.

The other case I'm aware of is a citizen from Russia. He was a 27 year old man with a case of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis - virtually untreatable. He was also under the care of some doctors. They had given him some very detailed instructions about what he must do. Some of those things were to take the medication as prescribed, wear a mask while out in public, and I'm sure there were lots of other conditions he was given to comply with. Well he decided that he didn't really want to wear a mask in public. So he went out without it - more than once. He basically decided "to heck with them" I want to live how I want to live. So for the safety of the public he was put into jail - not for a crime but for the protection of the community. He was jailed in Phoenix by Sheriff Joe. He was put in solitary confinement and they used a ventilation system that ensured no germs would escape. He stayed in there for a while until the ACLU got involved and insisted on more humane conditions for the man. Eventually he agreed to return to his home country. I think that he had the affected lung surgically removed. And now I don't know what has happened to him.

These are just 2 reasons that I am nervous about tuberculosis.

This is the hook to the story.

Last week we were shopping for blinds and shades for our windows. We were at a home improvement store asking questions and getting some bids. They guy was helping Doug and I was wandering around looking at the displays. When I came back to the desk the guy was talking and then he coughed. No big deal, right? Right! Not until he uttered his next sentence. He said, "This tuberculosis is terrible. It just keeps hanging on forever."

WHAT!!!??? Both of us turned to look at each other with eyebrows raised. We immediately stood up and made some distance between us and the sales person. We wanted to bolt but after spending a good amount of time to discuss what we wanted we also needed to get our quote. We beat it out of there as soon as we could.

Needless to say, neither of us wanted to go back in there. It sounded like this guy was the manager of the department. So if we wanted to order from them - we would be sitting face-to-face with the guy again. Mostly for that reason, we went to another home improvement store and ordered the things we needed.

So let me tell you this - if you want to get rid of us in a quick way - just cough a little and mention that little "T" word - TUBERCULOSIS. We'll split - and quick.