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Bilirakis Grills DHS Officials on Tuberculosis Security Breach |
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June 06, 2007
WASHINGTON - Following
the disregarded warning of a passenger infected with an extensive
drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR TB), U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), today
questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials about the potential
impact an error like this could have had on the public health and well-being of
Americans.
After further investigation
by DHS authorities, it was concluded that the XDR TB infected person who
wrongly entered the U.S.
on May 24, 2007, did so despite the fact that a customs and border agent was
provided warnings about the individual's highly dangerous illness.
"I was extremely alarmed when
I learned that someone with a very dangerous form of tuberculosis had entered
into this country undetected; potentially endangering the health of many
Americans," said Bilirakis. "I was more concerned when I discovered that
this security breach could have been prevented.
Bilirakis asked the
Commissioner of U.S.
Customs and Border Protection, Ralph Basham, about the types of additional
measures that can be taken by DHS to prevent this error from being repeated. He
also inquired about how such warnings can be better communicated to customs and
border officials in the future.
"This real world test of our
homeland security defenses has showed glaring deficiencies that make me doubt
whether we are as prepared as we need to be to stop someone with malicious
intentions from entering our country and causing unimaginable harm," said
Bilirakis. "While I am pleased that DHS will use the lessons learned from
this incident to strengthen our homeland security, I hope that the Department
is proactive instead of reactive when it thinks about potential risks to our
country's safety."
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