BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Erie County Department of Health has identified one active case of Tuberculosis among a group of 570 asylum seekers currently being housed in Erie County.
According to a spokesperson for the health department the case was found during regular screening and testing of individuals and that the individual is isolating and receiving treatment paid for by New York State.
ECDOH added, as with any Tuberculosis (TB) case it will conduct contact tracing to notify people of their potential exposure.
The health department would not confirm the individual's location although 2 On Your Side has confirmed that screening and testing is underway at a hotel in Cheektowaga.
This issue also surfaced during a Cheektowaga Town Board meeting on Tuesday evening. Councilman Brian Pilarski told residents "There is no E - Coli that has been confirmed. But it is confirmed there was one TB case. They did tell me yesterday. Erie County Health did not report that. That came from New York City when I was talking with them. And the patient is in the room and there are guards at the door to make sure the patient does not leave. And the meals are being provided and brought to the patient's room. And there is not an outbreak. So there is no concern I'm assuming at the county level because it is one case."
The asylum seeker is receiving additional medical care through New York City subcontractor DocGo and its contracted partner in Western New York, Jericho Road according to the spokesperson.
2 On Your Side was told via email that the ECDOH is providing vaccines to migrants using state funding to protect public health.
"ECDOH decided to offer these clinics, or PODs (points of dispensing), 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 email read.
The health department added that it has demanded complete TB screenings be performed and that state funds be used to help Jericho Road complete that task.
The spokesperson stated, "some of these individuals are school-aged, so these vaccines will also facilitate school attendance this fall. ECDOH’s vaccination efforts are designed to prevent illness and promote community health in Erie County."
The subcontractor DocGO, which according to the New York Times is reportedly being paid $432 Million by NYC to relocate and watch over the migrants, also responded to WGRZ. They said "Prior to being transported to an Upstate emergency site, a dedicated group of DocGo clinicians, including at least one nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant, screens each guest for any signs or symptoms of communicable diseases.
This medical screening includes:
- Performing a Rapid Antigen Covid Test
- Visually screening for any visible rashes/lesions
- Verbally screening for other communicable symptoms, such as cough, sneezing, fever, etc.
- Verbally confirming whether or not an individual is aware of having any chronic conditions"