Cover-up of tuberculosis outbreak at Cape Cod migrant encampment EXPOSED by local media

Cover-up of tuberculosis outbreak at Cape Cod migrant encampment EXPOSED by local media

By Laura Harris

A local radio talk show and a conservative newspaper in Massachusetts have exposed the coverup of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak at a Cape Cod migrant encampment.

On Dec. 2, 2023, CEO Heidi Nelson of the Duffy Health Center sent an emergency alert email to Democrat Reps. Kip Diggs and Christopher Flanagan, Democrat Sen. Julian Cyr and Republican Rep. Steven Xiarhos about the tuberculosis cases discovered in a South Yarmouth motel. The administration of Gov. Maura Healey is housing 100 migrant families in the said motel

.A few weeks later, Xiarhos called "The Ed Lambert Show" during its live broadcast on Cape Cod-based 95 WXTK radio to confirm the existence of the email and its content related to tuberculosis cases at the migrant shelter. As a response, Lambert criticized the lawmakers and the health center for refusing to disclose the content and the current status of the tuberculosis outbreak.

"I'm blown away that other people who got a direct copy of this email haven't sent it out and haven't said to Heidi or anybody else at Duffy Health – 'get it to the people.' Duffy Health made a decision not to send this to the public. Why, I have no clue," said Lambert.

Statehouse attorneys prevented Lambert from reading the email on air due to its "private" content. Xiarhos defended the decision and directed Lambert to file a request under the Freedom of Information Act.

However, Lambert argued that as the email was sent to statehouse emails, it falls under the public domain.

Furthermore, Lonnie Brennan, editor of the Boston Broadside, the lone newspaper in the state covering the tuberculosis controversy, emphasized the need for transparency. "They are playing hide and seek with letters about tuberculosis and who knows what else they may be hiding. There should be zero tolerance for hiding things from taxpayers," he said.

In 2022, a study conducted by the National Institute of Health revealed that tuberculosis was becoming an increasingly prevalent cause of death and illness among refugees and migrants.

"These groups are among the most vulnerable populations at increased risk of developing TB. However, there is no systematic review that attempts to summarize TB among refugees and migrant populations," the study said.