Doctor's In: State Officials Underplay Worst US TB Outbreak in 20 Years

The tuberculosis outbreak in Jacksonville has taken 13 lives and sickened 99 to date.  This increasing homeless case cluster over several years continues to be minimized by the newly appointed health department Surgeon General, John Armstrong.  In a long line of continuing gaffes by the health department press secretary, Jessica Hammonds, remembering Dr. Steven Harris, recently reappointed to Department of Corrections, justifications for not informing legislators,  the public or area homeless about the worst outbreak of TB in the nation for 20 years. One has to wonder whether incompetence reigns in the health department or they simply don’t care.

Recent examples of glib statements coming from Hammond when questioned by a Palm Beach Post reporter about whether employees of the motel where TB patients are housed were being trained to take precautions with these sick occupants.  She forcefully stated they were but in interviewing the employee the maid appeared confused at the question.

Information coming from the homeless community suggests there was little knowledge of the outbreak in spite of health department assurances that the homeless were being informed.  Further reports of filthy conditions in one shelter seen by inspectors but not cited or corrected shows the lax standards encouraged by government officials who don’t “give a damn.” 

One must conclude that Scott’s administration is so “hell bent” on privatizing and wrecking government infrastructure including Florida’s health department, that he has no concern for the public health and safety of Florida citizens. As Scott ran the HCA hospital chain you think he would be concerned about health risks to the public.

I can only surmise that Scott and health department officials are willing to defend the indefensible knowing and hoping that attention to this story will end and be forgotten. There is no question that all the attention to the homeless would never have occurred if it were not for the initial stories of the TB outbreak by the Palm Beach Post, which found the story repeated in newspapers and online journals all over the country.

When our elected officials and Health Department chiefs abrogate their responsibility to public’s health and safety, an ominous sign for the future of Florida presents itself. Much can be surmised about the quality of our government officials.  This show of testing the homeless for TB and defending placing patients in motels along with the premature closure of A.G. Holley TB hospital, speaks volumes about Scott, Florida’s Health department leadership, and the value of a persistent reporter from the Palm Beach Post.  My greatest concern is that the Governor and Surgeon General are correct; this will blow away, just sit tight and don't say anything.