Recent reports from the Chicago Health Department have confirmed the presence of tuberculosis cases among migrants who have recently arrived in the city. While the exact number of cases has not been disclosed, the health department has described it as a ‘small number’.
It has been highlighted that many residents of Central and South America carry latent TB infections, which do not transmit the virus but can yield positive test results. The health department has assured that measures are being taken to contain these infections and no confirmed reports of new arrivals transmitting TB have been received.
Concurrently, the city has decided to bolster its budget with Favorite Healthcare, a firm that has been actively involved in providing healthcare services to migrants. The city extended its contract with Favorite Healthcare for an additional $85 million, marking the third substantial increase in the contract’s value since late December. This brings the total amount allocated to Favorite Healthcare to over $234 million.
The increase in the budget has raised concerns among some alderpeople who were reportedly unaware of this latest development. However, a spokesperson for the mayor clarified that the budget increment aligns with the approved city council budget, which had earmarked $150 million for this purpose.
This development comes in the wake of the city’s efforts to address public health concerns related to migrant populations, amidst ongoing discussions about immigration and border policies.
