House Committee TB Report Finds Gaps Between DHS and CDC

September 10, 2007 -- Today, at the request of Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), the Majority Staff of the Committee on Homeland Security released a comprehensive report examining the government’s difficulties in handling the XDR-TB case and the government’s current capabilities to manage an incident like this. The report, entitled “XDR-TB 2007: A Breakdown at the Intersection of Homeland Security and Public Health,” finds that many of the problems experienced during the Andrew Speaker case have still not been remedied.

In addition to providing a comprehensive timeline of events, the report explores the interactions between the Department of Homeland Security and the CDC regarding public health security issues, identifies weaknesses in homeland security processes designed to prevent persons of interest from entering into the U.S., and makes recommendations for improvements to better secure America.

The report notes, " Although there were certain circumstances in which U.S. federal departments and agencies worked well together, the 2007 XDR-TB incident was handled ineffectively and inefficiently. As is always the case with events for which we are poorly prepared, the situation cast a harsh light on the gaps in communication, coordination, response, patient management, implementation of quarantine and isolation laws, public messaging, information management, training, awareness, and professionalism. Though it is clear that all parties involved in this situation are aware of these shortfalls, it is not as clear to the Committee that they are being addressed with the urgency and attention necessary to prevent a similar series of events from occurring again today."