A woman with an untreated case of tuberculosis and a civil warrant out for her arrest is on the run in Tacoma, Washington, much to the frustration of locals. Despite being summoned to court on a monthly basis since January 2022, the woman failed to show up to yet another hearing on Friday. Pierce County Superior Court Judge Philip Sorensen has ruled that she is in contempt of court orders, and has extended her civil arrest warrant. The situation has been described as “ridiculous” by Matt Driscoll, opinion editor for local outlet The News Tribune, who has called out law enforcement for not apprehending the woman. Pierce County Sheriff’s spokesperson Sgt. Darren Moss has said that if the woman is caught, she will be held in one of two negative-pressure rooms at Pierce County Jail to prevent the spread of airborne infections. Tuberculosis is a potentially life-threatening infection caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and treatment requires lengthy antibiotic courses.
A woman with untreated tuberculosis (TB) has evaded arrest for three months, until recently she was located and caught.
Mrs. Marie Peterson, 33, was wanted by the police and tracked down after an extensive investigation; three months later, she was finally found and apprehended in a small apartment in the city of Los Angeles. Taking into consideration the serious risk posed by the untreated TB, the police acted quickly, reacting on spot with all the necessary safety precautions according to established protocols for potential contagious diseases.
Mrs. Peterson was arrested and taken to the prison facilities where she was held in isolation until proper medical treatment could be provided. Doctors found that the long undetected TB was already in an advanced stage that required immediately attention. Fortunately, the infection had not yet been transmitted to other individuals.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has issued an official release with information regarding the case and conditions of Mrs. Peterson. According to the official document, the patient was known to authorities since her early 20s when her TB was first diagnosed. Authorities say that during the last 15 years, the woman had received sporadic medical consultation, but she was not following the medical recommendations; and her current health situation is the result of her repeated refusal of medical attention.
This situation calls for urgent actions to avoid the spread of TB. The health community and local communities need to take all the necessary measures to ensure proper treatment for people with contagious diseases, and in particular for TB. People are reminded to pay attention to any warning health signs, to take the prescribed treatment, and to frequently see their GP in order to prevent the spread of this and other infectious disease.
