'Putting Families At Risk': Chicago Health Department Reveals Tuberculosis Spreading Throughout Migrant Shelters

On Wednesday, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced that a "small number" of Tuberculosis cases were discovered in migrant shelters across The Windy City following a Measles outbreak that has impacted dozens of people occupying the shelters.

The CDPH told residents that they are utilizing contact tracing to attempt to get the deadly disease under control. Health officials have not disclosed the location of the outbreaks nor how many migrants have developed symptoms. "CDPH is aware of a small number of cases of TB among new arrivals in a few different shelters over the course of the response," the department explained. Officials added that about 10-20 percent of the migrants coming from Central and South America have a latent form of TB, which is asymptomatic but can develop into an active disease.

"TB is not a novel or rarely seen illness in Chicago, as the Chicago Department of Public Health typically expects to see between 100-150 cases of tuberculosis in Chicago residents in an average year," Chicago's health officials said in a statement. "We will continue to offer treatment to individuals as necessary and take the proper precautions to eliminate spread, but we do not consider this a matter presenting a substantial threat to the public."

CDPH officials explained to the public that the disease is not highly contagious and can be easily treated with antibiotics. "TB is curable with antibiotics and is not particularly infectious, typically requiring several hours or more of prolonged close contact between individuals to spread, but CDPH continues to take cases very seriously in order to keep it contained."

Dr. Aniruddha Hazra, associate professor of medicine, Infectious Diseases and Global Health at the University of Chicago, told Fox 32. "These outbreaks happen in close quarters, people who are living close to one another," "The people who are most at risk of tuberculosis are the other migrants living in that shelter."

Tuberculosis is a potentially fatal disease that was common throughout the world up to the 20th century when treatments were developed. The infectious disease normally attacks the lungs with symptoms including chronic cough, bloody mucus, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

The outbreak of Tuburculosis in the migrant shelters comes after 55 cases of Measles popped up Lake and Will counties stemming from the Pilsen Migrant Shelter in Chicago. The Illinois Department of Public Health is currently conducting conduct tracing to keep the disease, which attacks the lungs and normally brings about a rash, under control.

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FOX NEWS: Tuberculosis Outbreak At Migrant Shelters pic.twitter.com/ZdLUJHxNbS

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