Andrew Speaker, TB patient
recently released from hospital
Andrew Speaker, the man who caused an international frenzy when he flew from Europe knowing he had a very severe form of tuberculosis was released from the hospital. His physicians said that he was no longer contagious, but would be on antibiotics for at least two years.
Since his return to the United States, Speaker has been in isolation, and he was also found to have a less serious form of the disease.
Speaker was originally diagnosed with drug resistant, or X-DR, tuberculosis. The type he does have - multi-drug- resistant strain - is still severe but easier to treat. Further tests found he had the multi-drug-resistant strain, which is still severe but easier to treat.
It was determined by doctors at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver, Colorado that Mr. Speaker was healthy enough to go back to Georgia on a commercial flight; however, Speaker opted to take an air ambulance to avoid public alarm.
Although not completely cured at this time, Dr. Gwen Huitt of the medical center said that Speaker was expected to return to a full and active life. He had surgery to remove part of a lung that contained a tennis-ball-sized infected lump.
Although rare in the United States, 13,767 cases were recorded or about 4.6 per 100,000 Americans.
