Tuberculosis and the potential health risk posed by refugees became a hot topic after a story aired by a Fargo, North Dakota TV station Monday. The story, which Valley News Live called an investigative report, alleged that tuberculosis infected refugees in North Dakota and Minnesota represent a threat to the health of virtually all its citizens – but local health experts disagree.
The televised report features a text graphic that asks "Could Kindness Be Bad For Your Health?" A print version of the report is unequivocal in its conclusions.
"Our own investigation has found that everyone, U.S. born or foreign born, who lives in a refugee resettlement area is at risk for contracting tuberculosis."
However, when reporters asked Lutheran Social Services of North Dakota, the agency responsible for resettling refugees in the state, their reply does not support the TV station's contention – as quoted in their own report.
"We know active TB condition is an inadmissible condition to enter the United States and all of our refugees are properly screened prior to the admission, we do not see active TB as a health risk."
