State Secret

In Jacksonville, Florida, a drug-resistant form of TB first spread through their homeless population, and then branched out into the general citizenry. But authorities didn't want to tell people.

“What you don’t want is for anyone to have another reason why people should turn their backs on the homeless,” said Charles Griggs, the public information officer for the Duval County Health Department.

When the homeless cough and hack,
I admit I turn my back.

The key problem is that TB takes a while to treat.

Some wanderer doesn't stay on their meds.
Soon it spreads.

So how is that working out?

In 2012, the CDC was invited to help with a sudden spike in cases of the same rare strain the schizophrenic patient had. What they found is the worst outbreak they have investigated in 20 years, and it is not contained.

Not contained. Great.

Don't tell anyone, but the homeless sector
can be an illness vector.