In a thoroughly uninformed statement during an interview on a Fox News program hosted by business reporter Charles Payne, a former ICE agent named David Ward in discussing the Central American migrant caravan said the following about a “public health issue”:
“We have these individuals coming from all over the world that have some of the most extreme medical care in the world. They are coming in with diseases such as smallpox and leprosy and T.B. that are going to infect our people in the United States.”
One problem with this “expert” analysis–the last naturally acquired smallpox case was in 1977 and the disease was officially declared eliminated from the planet in 1980.
I don’t suspect smallpox is a risk, to say the least.
Ward also mentions leprosy. Not a particularly contagious disease (95 percent of people are resistant to infection) and very treatable with antibiotics.
As far as tuberculosis (TB), it already exists in the U.S. and is treatable by antibiotics. Like leprosy, no need to cause fear and panic.
An irresponsible statement from a former ICE official and a host that didn’t do his job by calling him out.
This just does not help at all.
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I am a clinical microbiologist. You’re research on TB being easily treatable with antibiotics is inaccurate as heck. Mexican cough medicines contain rifamptin, a heavy hitter for TB. More resistant strains are being spread in the Americas because of this. Your reactionary piece is seriously flawed.
smallpox was erradicated and people older than 40 years old got the vacine.
leprosy is not an epidemy , but could be a problem in some sites, including united states
tuberculosis never was erradicated from south america, and is a big problem . unfortunatelly, the new president in argentina is stopping the treatments for tbc (there are near 7000 deaths because TBC), leprosy, std and others.
south america is in risk because people from united states and europe , are refusing vacination… we should put controls over people who arrive from those sites….
Nice try, Ericka – Better get back to the laboratory! Because if you are really a clinical microbiologist and your medical data is as accurate as your SPELLING and GRAMMAR, then I think we’re all in SERIOUS TROUBLE!
“YOU’RE research on TB….” ????
“Rifamtin” ????
(Does anyone seriously believe that someone who can’t spell is a clinical microbiologist?)
Next time you make something up and post it online, try to at least check the SPELLING!!! This post almost reads as if Trump wrote it.
LOLOL!
Erika, if that is indeed your real name, you are most certainly not a microbiologist. To call oneself a microbiologist, one must first acquire enough education to learn that there is more than just one type of tuberculosis. Happily, such an education would also have the unintended effect of teaching you the important differences between “your” and “you’re.”
smallpox was erradicated and people older than 40 years old got the vacine.
leprosy is not an epidemy , but could be a problem in some sites, including united states
tuberculosis never was erradicated from south america, and is a big problem . unfortunatelly, the new president in argentina is stopping the treatments for tbc, leprosy, std and others.
south america is in risk because people from united states and europe , are refusing vacination… we should put controls over people who arrive from those sites….
you can nitpick about what diseases and attack folks about misspelled words, but without a doubt The caravan of 15,000 refugees could be harboring diseases, parasites, pathogens, STD’s, and yes, criminals and terrorists. Still, the Democrats don’t care, because it’s all about regaining power and control over a country they believe would be better off without borders, police, prisons, or private businesses.
Diseased Caravans: Remember the tuberculosis epidemic in Minnesota from the refugees just a few years ago?
In a shocking report from 2014, nearly every fourth refugee who settled in Minnesota tested positive for tuberculosis, a dangerous, infectious bacterial disease that affects the lungs and can spread from one person to another via sneezes and coughs. The Democrats like these kinds of outbreaks though, because that promotes forced vaccination, and that’s another form of nanny-state tyranny used as a revenue tool, along with mass media fear-mongering and propaganda.
Uhh Huh Sure how do you know that? Trump?