Tuberculosis occupies Occupy protesters

By Catholic Online (NEWS CONSORTIUM)
11/14/2011
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

At least two people infected, one with drug resistant strain.

As the weather grows cold, Occupy protesters have started to huddle together inside tent encampments across the country. The close quarters and poor sanitation are now threatening the outbreak of disease.

The Occupy Atlanta protesters at a recent meeting.

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ATLANTA, GA (Catholic Online) - Already, tuberculosis has been found at the occupy Atlanta camp. Officials from the Fulton County Health Department confirmed last Wednesday that residents at the homeless shelter where the protesters have taken refuge, have contracted a drug-resistant strain of tuberculosis. They are warning that homeless persons and protesters occupying the shelter are at risk, since the disease is airborne.

Fulton County Services Director, Matthew McKenna said in a written statement, "Over the last three months there have been two persons who have resided in this facility who have been diagnosed with confirmed or suspected infectious tuberculosis. 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 persons identified as positive have begun treatment and are being monitored to ensure that medication is taken as directed."

Atlanta's Task Force for the Homeless has notified the Occupy protesters of the outbreak, although the identities of the victims have not been released.

The situation is becoming both dangerous and tense as the news could force the protesters to move once more. The protesters moved into the homeless shelter on October 30, after Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed evicted them from downtown's Woodruff Park, telling them that they could no longer camp there overnight. Now the protesters and the homeless shelter are in jeopardy of eviction.

Occupy Atlanta has indicated through their spokesperson, Tim Fraser and, that despite the reports, they still have no intention of relocating at this time.

� 2011, Catholic Online. Distributed by NEWS CONSORTIUM.

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Keywords: Tuberculosis, Atlanta, camp, sanitation, disease

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1 - 3 of 3 Comments

derp186
1 year ago
I really sad to see the members of catholic.org get rickrolled about the poorly fact checked report about occupy atlanta having TB. In reality the two thing occured on different floors.
Russell
1 year ago
Hey Diane.
What did radical members of the right do when Obama was elected? What did African Americans do when faced with Jim Crow laws, segregation, lynching etc? What did the women's suffrage groups do when they were sick of being treated like property? What did American's due when faced with what they considered to be "taxation without representation?" These were considered "fringe groups" too.
The right to protest, the right to voice, the right to the demand is built into and has built this nation. We are nothing without it. "The American people" (which you seem to designate as white, conservative, and middle class) would never be what they are today without these "fringe groups". They are an integral part of the American experience. They have shaped us.
So, Diane, if you consider yourself a conservative (and I am assuming that you do) and if conservative means to preserve the foundational elements of the past (the constitution, the declaration, the bill of rights, etc) it seems to me that it also means to preserve the right of address, the right of voice, and the right to challenge systems or people or positions that you find to be corrupt. Be a real conservative Diane.
Diane
1 year ago
Who are tese "Occupy" people anyway? Don't they have jobs they have to go to? Don't they have families, husbands wives, children, parents etc? Where are they getting their money, food, etc.? What are they, "professional" protesters? I think they are Obama supporters and they are trying to show what they are going to do when he is defeated this coming election. Tough. The American people are not going to be bullied by the fringe. Obama is a fruitcake and so are his supporters regarless of their race,religion or gender.

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