Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The Erie County Health Department says one migrant has been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB). It's the latest among concerns over migrants who were bussed in from New York City.
The Erie County Health Department says it regularly monitors for TB cases in Erie County. This one individual is currently isolating and is receiving treatment paid for by New York State.
"When active cases are identified, we isolate the patient, conduct contact tracing to notify people of their potential exposure, and provide treatment," says the ECDOH in a statement.
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The identity of the individual and their location is not being released, however in the photo provided to WBEN, an Erie County tent is located outside a Buffalo hotel.
The county says New York City and their subcontractor DocGo are responsible for all primary care and acute medical needs for their migrants. The health department says its understanding is DocGo subcontractor Jericho Road has done initial medical screenings and triage for these individuals and is connecting them to local primary care providers who would then help manage acute or chronic medical needs at DocGo’s expense.
It also demanded that complete tuberculosis screenings be performed, and the county is using state funds to help Jericho Road complete that task.
"Our department is invested in protecting county residents’ health. To that end, ECDOH is using state funding to provide needed vaccines to the migrants to protect public health. We have vaccinators and staff on site at a hotel today," adds the health department.
It decided to offer these clinics based on the higher disease transmission risks in congregate living settings and the opportunity to offer vaccines that may not be commonly available in these individuals’ countries of origin. The county adds some of these individuals are school-aged, so these vaccines will also facilitate school attendance this fall.
This news comes after a migrant from Venezuela has been charged with raping another migrant last week in Cheektowaga.
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