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TB patient apologises over scare TB man 'sorry' over plane trips
(10 minutes later)
A US tuberculosis patient who triggered a health scare by boarding two trans-Atlantic flights has apologised to passengers he may have endangered. A US tuberculosis patient who triggered a health scare by boarding two transatlantic flights has apologised to passengers he may have endangered.
"I'm very sorry for any grief or pain that I have caused," Andrew Speaker, a 31-year-old lawyer, told ABC TV."I'm very sorry for any grief or pain that I have caused," Andrew Speaker, a 31-year-old lawyer, told ABC TV.
Mr Speaker, who travelled to Europe for his wedding last month, said he did not know he could be a risk to others. Mr Speaker, who flew to Europe for his wedding last month, knew he had TB but said he did not know he posed a risk.
He said health officials had told him he was not contagious and had not forbidden him to travel. Health officials had told him he was not contagious and had not forbidden him to travel, he said.
Wearing a medical mask, he told ABC's Good Morning America programme he hoped fellow passengers could "forgive me and understand that I really believed that I wasn't putting people at risk".Wearing a medical mask, he told ABC's Good Morning America programme he hoped fellow passengers could "forgive me and understand that I really believed that I wasn't putting people at risk".
Mr Speaker added that he had tape recordings to prove his claim that he was only advised against travelling, but not barred by officials.Mr Speaker added that he had tape recordings to prove his claim that he was only advised against travelling, but not barred by officials.
"At every turn it was conveyed to me that my family, my wife, my daughter, that no-one was at risk," he said."At every turn it was conveyed to me that my family, my wife, my daughter, that no-one was at risk," he said.
QuarantineQuarantine
The ABC interview took place at a specialist clinic in Denver, where Mr Speaker is under quarantine.The ABC interview took place at a specialist clinic in Denver, where Mr Speaker is under quarantine.
US and European authorities have launched a worldwide search for people who may have come into contact with him during two trans-Atlantic flights. US and European authorities have launched a worldwide search for people who may have come into contact with him during two transatlantic flights.
Mr Speaker was found to have a rare strain of tuberculosis, and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) says the risk of contracting the drug-resistant disease is low.Mr Speaker was found to have a rare strain of tuberculosis, and the European Centre for Disease Control (ECDC) says the risk of contracting the drug-resistant disease is low.
Nevertheless it was recommending that people who sat in the same row or in the two rows in front of or behind him to be checked.Nevertheless it was recommending that people who sat in the same row or in the two rows in front of or behind him to be checked.
Mr Speaker travelled from Atlanta to Paris on 12 May to get married and spend his honeymoon in Europe.Mr Speaker travelled from Atlanta to Paris on 12 May to get married and spend his honeymoon in Europe.
He returned from Prague to Montreal on 24 May and continued his journey into the US by car.He returned from Prague to Montreal on 24 May and continued his journey into the US by car.
The personal injury lawyer was initially placed under federal quarantine at an Atlanta hospital - the first such order since 1963.The personal injury lawyer was initially placed under federal quarantine at an Atlanta hospital - the first such order since 1963.
He is restricted to a special "negative pressure" room that traps and cleanses air particles, and medical staff will wear masks when in contact with him.He is restricted to a special "negative pressure" room that traps and cleanses air particles, and medical staff will wear masks when in contact with him.
TB is rare in the US. Last year there were 13,767 recorded cases or 4.6 cases per 100,000 Americans.TB is rare in the US. Last year there were 13,767 recorded cases or 4.6 cases per 100,000 Americans.