Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over a Chinese national with tuberculosis found at an ICE detention facility in Basile. The lawsuit seeks to prevent the release of detainees without health clearance from the Louisiana Department of Health. Governor Jeff Landry assured the public that there is no immediate danger. The detainee crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and was transferred to a facility in Louisiana, potentially exposing 174 detainees, but is now in isolation receiving treatment.
Tuberculosis is an airborne bacterial disease, with Louisiana currently reporting 79 cases. There are two types: latent, where the person is not contagious, and active, where transmission is possible. Drug-resistant cases can be treatable but require long-term medication. The chance of asymptomatic patients spreading the disease is low.
The lawsuit comes amid a larger debate on immigration, with immigration policies being a central theme in the national presidential election. Republican nominee Donald Trump has criticized immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, and Vice President Kamala Harris for border policies. Louisiana Attorney General Landry, a Trump supporter, emphasized the need for stricter border control to prevent health crises like this. The Chinese national with TB highlights the importance of proper health screening for detainees.
Source
Photo credit www.nola.com
