TB patient causes transatlantic airline infection probe

A TUBERCULOSIS patient under the first US federal quarantine since 1963 left an Atlanta hospital yesterday and arrived at a Denver facility that specialises in respiratory disorders, officials said.

It comes as a search gets under way throughout Europe for airline passengers who were seated close to the man, who has drug-resistant TB known as XDR TB.

Last night hospital officials identified him as personal injury lawyer Andrew Speaker. He flew from Atlanta to Europe in mid-May for his wedding and honeymoon, but then learned he had the XDR strain, which is considered especially dangerous. He took four shorter flights within Europe and, despite medical advice not to board another long flight, returned to the US for treatment.