Now, this may be one determined groom, albeit a careless one! A Georgia man (identity not released, probably due to fear of public beatings) infected with a very rare case of tuberculosis boarded a flight from Atlanta to Paris, despite being warned that he knew he could possibly expose his diagnosed case of TB to other passengers. Although his strain of bacteria was resistant to the first line of treatment, he headed off to Greece for his long-planned wedding, thinking everything would be fine.
Although most likely not highly contagious, the man is infected with an extensively drug-resistant form of TB, one that the Centers for Disease Control aren’t very experienced in. While in Europe on his honeymoon, the groom was notified by the health authorities that his TB was deadlier than they thought, and to immediately go into isolation and to turn himself in to the italian officials.
Well, he had a different idea in mind. The now-married couple flew into Montreal from Prague, driving into the U.S. through Champlain, New York. Afraid of not getting the treatment he needed in Europe, the man decided to sneak back into the country after being told by officials that he was unsafe to fly aboard commercial airlines.
In his defense, the man said, “”I’m a very well-educated, successful, intelligent person,” he told the paper. “This is insane to me that I have an armed guard outside my door when I’ve cooperated with everything other than the whole solitary-confinement-in-Italy thing.”
Well, I know for one thing, that even after long-term planning, if Mr. Kiwi was diagnosed with tuberculosis I’d tell him to stay home- that stuff is deadly! If you were the wife in this case, what would you have wanted?
Tuberculosis = bad. It’s not like he can have any fun on the honeymoon anyway if he’s arrested. Or he gets his wife quarantined!
I agree… unless bride was equally crazy! or maybe she lived in greece and he didn’t tell her? who knows? Just out of pure selfishness, I wouldn’t let him go anywhere in fear of being infected myself!
They thought my honey had TB for a while–he was super sick and the test for it came back inconclusive time after time. They finally determined that it was something else that was making him sick and he was just allergic to the test. But until they figured that, he was encouraged to not go out, and if he had to go out, he was supposed to wear a procedural mask over his face to protect other people.
Mr. TB, though, was asymptomatic. So he didn’t look sick, he didn’t feel sick, he didn’t have any sign of being sick, so far as I can figure from the article. They might have thought it was a false positive on the test or something. If he wasn’t looking or feeling sick and we’d gone through all the trouble to plan this wedding and honeymoon, heck yes, he’s following through! He should have worn a mask or something, protecting people because, as he’s learning, it’s better safe than sorry. But I don’t really blame them for doing what they did.
That man was beyond careless–he completely disregarded the safety of hundreds. Despite what he may think, he is the very definition of stupidity, not to mention selfishness.
Actually Kylene, the article said: The man, however, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that doctors didn’t order him not to fly and only suggested he put off his long-planned wedding in Greece. He knew he had a form of tuberculosis and that it was resistant to first-line drugs, but he didn’t realize until he was already in Europe that it could be so dangerous, he said.
So if he knew he had a form of TB (which is always highly contagious), it was senseless thing to do.
OMG! I hope he didn’t get anyone else sick.
What irritates me is that he claims to be well educated and intelligent and then flew back via Montreal.
Going to Greece wasn’t a problem for me, it was the return flight that was rude, thoughtless and idiotic.
This guy is a first class jerk to endanger other people once he was told to stick around for treatment and a way to get him home without endangering others.
I’m totally appalled at his disregard for other people.
I’m assuming the wife to be had no idea at the time, but if it were me, I would have killed him if he went through with the wedding. He compromised the health and safety of all those close to him and then some. So selfish! I would have arranged to have the wedding postponed and I can’t see a venue turning that down given the circumstances!
I don’t know what his wife really wanted, but I doubt it was a raging case of TB.
what an a hole.
what does being successful and well educated have anything to do with knowingly exposing others to his disease?
“Health officials said the man had been advised not to fly and knew he could expose others when he boarded the jets.”
Well educated? Educated in being a selfish infectious PIG!!!!!!!!!!!
Disgusting behavior. Period.
This man — what a catch for the lucky bride! Sheesh!
His selfishness is beyond appalling. He was advised not to go to Europe, he did anyway. He didn’t take any precautions. Once in Rome he was notified that he had an extremely deadly form of the disease and asked to turn himself in to Italian authorities for treatment AND so he didn’t continue to expose others. Instead he flew back to North America and drives into the country.
He claims that he didn’t want to be treated in Italy- maybe he should have thought of that before, um- going to Italy?
As for whether it was okay because he wasn’t feeling sick- Typhoid Mary never felt sick either.
I believe he was selfish! Very selfish! As was she. Now, to make matters worse, he is here in Denver! Quarantined, none the less, but HERE! They say he could be here for over a year in a special chamber. My Gosh! This is a very bad case of TB!! Immune to 11 of 13 medications to treat TB.
If I was his soon to be wife, I would seriously reconsider marrying the guy. His actions say that he is selfish and is willing to endanger the lives of himself, his wife, and everyone around him. What a wanker.
Yeah. Agree with all the people above. I also think that he should be prosecuted somehow for negligence, because really, if he got anyone sick and they died (multidrug resistant TB is much more dangerous to the old), his actions are not much different than pointing a loaded gun around at people and then being “sorry” when it accidentally goes off. But what’s even worse is that this idiot can sue the government for violating his constitutional rights for quarantining him (believe it or not, it’s true!). I mean really, how can someone be so stupid? He was in Italy and they have hospitals there!
The ultimate irony though, is that he’s a personal injury lawyer, and I hope every passenger on those flights sue him, so that he’s dealing with this for the rest of his life.
Mrs. Kiwi, Los Angeles
Age and Occupation in 06: 27, Bookkeeper
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 27, P.E. Teach/Coach @ private schools in LA
Engagement Date: March 31, 2006
Wedding Date: November 3, 2007
Venue: Radisson Hotel
About Me: I'm a bookkeeper who failed high school algebra. I'm currently living in Los Angeles, literally a street over from where I grew up with Mr. Kiwi, my honey of three years. We have a jumbo mini-dachshund (seriously, he's huuuuge), and we're planning an autumn themed wedding on a shoestring, paid for by ourselves. The wedding date is my late grandma's birthday, I needed her there somehow, and that seemed like the best way for us. I can't believe I'm a Bee! I couldn't be more proud!
Some how I doubt Mrs. TB knew the whole story. What right-minded bride would let her Mr. carry on that long with such a nasty form of the virus? Me thinks not too many women would allow such behavior. That being said, my soon-to-be Mr. would not want to risk infecting others (myself included) if he was stricken with this infection. Ladies, go home and kiss your TB-free man tonight!!