XDR-TB

Knowing that there are only a few border crossings from Montreal to NYC, I have been wondering if Andrew Speaker, the man with the virulent strain of XDR-TB, crossed at the Champlain Border. In an interesting article in the NYT, it was verified that the patient crossed at Champlain border near Plattsburgh. I have also been wondering how he was allowed to cross into the county if his passport had been flagged.

Along the border crossing at Champlain, N.Y., an inspector ran Speaker's passport through a computer, and a warning - including instructions to hold the traveler, wear a protective mask in dealing with him and call health authorities - popped up,officials said.

Apparently, US Customs and Border Patrol waived him through the border in less than two minutes

Customs and Border Protection officer swiped Speaker's passport through an electronic reader and an alert displayed on the officer's computer screen. But Speaker wasn't stopped. In less than two minutes he was waved across the border.

The border patrol agent apparently let him through the border because he didn't look very sick.

Congressional investigators, who will be holding hearings on the way the case of the man, Andrew Speaker, has been handled, say that the border agent at the Plattsburgh, N.Y., border crossing with Canada decided that Mr. Speaker did not look sick and so let him go.

Oh, Plattsburgh...