CBS Atlanta: Tuberculosis Breaks Out At Occupy Atlanta’s Base (2 articles, same day)

[Patricia M. McBride]

Hope we don't know anyone who has been trying to talk these people into the truth of the situation.  This is awful, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone even if I don't agree with them on anything much.

 

November 10, 2011 1:55 PM

ATLANTA (CBS Atlanta) – The home base for Occupy Atlanta has tested positive for tuberculosis.

The Fulton County Health Department confirmed Wednesday that residents at the homeless shelter where protesters have been occupying have contracted the drug-resistant disease. WGCL reports that a health department spokeswoman said there is a possibility that both Occupy Atlanta protesters and the homeless people in the shelter may still be at risk since tuberculosis is contracted through air contact.

“Over the last three months were have been two persons who have resided in this facility who have been diagnosed with confirmed or suspected infectious tuberculosis (TB),” said Fulton County Services Director Matthew McKenna in a written statement to CBS Atlanta. “One of these persons was confirmed to have a strain of TB that is resistant to a single, standard medication used to treat this condition. All person(s) identified as positive have begun treatment and are being monitored to ensure that medication is taken as directed.”

The Atlanta Task Force for the Homeless has indicated that two cases have been made public knowledge to the group, the first coming from someone who contracted the disease in September. The identities of the people who have contracted the disease, however, have not been disclosed by the health department to this point.

The news of the tuberculosis contractions could force Occupy Atlanta to move once again. WGCL reports that more than 100 protesters made the move to the homeless shelter Oct. 30 after Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed evicted Occupy Atlanta from Woodruff Park, citing that they were no longer allowed to camp out overnight. The homeless shelter is also facing an eviction of its own from the city.

link:  http://atlanta.cbslocal.com/2011/11/10/tuberculosis-breaks-out-at-o...

Occupy Atlanta denies TB threat

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Editor & Publisher

ATLANTA, Nov. 10, 2011, 5:40 p.m. - Occupy Atlanta's Tim Franzen today disputed a report that a drug-resistant tuberculosis strain may force the group to move its headquarters from atop a homeless shelter.

""They [the health department] have no data on an outbreak." Franzen told Redding News Review's radio show. "They have two cases that have been confirmed, but they have both come out of the Fulton County Jail, which is where people get TB."

Franzen said that he and others have no problems with spending the night at the facility.

CBS earlier today reported: "The Fulton County Health Department confirmed Wednesday that residents at the homeless shelter where protesters have been occupying have contracted the drug-resistant disease. WGCL reports that a health department spokeswoman said there is a possibility that both Occupy Atlanta protesters and the homeless people in the shelter may still be at risk since tuberculosis is contracted through air contact."

Link:  http://reddingnewsreview.com/newspages/2011newspages/ocuppy_tb_11_1...