Tuberculosis a growing concern
By Andrew Lightman / Daily News Staff
Tuesday, September 20, 2005

MILFORD -- Tuberculosis and reports of bed bugs are on the rise, two alarming public health trends likely made worse by a recent boom in overcrowded immigrant housing, the Board of Health said last night.

"As we all know, tuberculosis can be highly contagious through coughing, breathing and sneezing," said health officer Paul Mazzuchelli. "By living in an overcrowded home, you can increase the risk tenfold. Now it's a public health issue we have to address."

Data prepared by the Greater Milford-Northbridge Visiting Nurse Association showed cases of the highly contagious respiratory disease have reappeared in Milford after at least a one-year hiatus.

In fiscal 2004, the Visiting Nurses Association recorded no cases of TB. But in fiscal 2005, 11 people contracted active cases of TB, while three more cases were reported by the VNA this summer just from July and August.

"That's a lot for our town population," said Board of Health member Leonard Izzo.

A disease that usually affects the lungs, symptoms for tuberculosis include coughing, fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, weakness, fatigue and night sweats. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, it can be cured by a six- to nine-month treatment of medicine.

While it was once uncommon to find cases of TB in Milford, Mazzuchelli said the recent cases have mostly been isolated within the local immigrant population.

"We have to get in the mode where sometimes political correctness will have to come in second to common sense," Mazzuchelli said. "This is due to people who come from other countries, where people are more likely to have TB, settling in Milford."

"This has nothing to do with race, religion or color. I'm talking about individuals themselves here," he said.

Mazzuchelli said the trend is not expected to slow anytime soon, nor is it isolated just to Milford. Overall, he said, the state has seen a 9 percent rise in cases of TB in the last year.




Bed bugs

Meanwhile, as recently as last month, residents have reported finding bed bugs in their homes.

Supposedly eradicated in Milford in the 1950s, Mazzuchelli said he suspects they have returned to the area in the clothes, blankets and mattresses of recent immigrants.

"One tenant wanted to move out, so she brought to me a bag of 15 of them," Mazzuchelli said. "This is just the tip of the iceberg."

Overcrowding a concern

Mazzuchelli and the Board of Health believe there is a link between the two health concerns and cases of residential overcrowding, reported in several places in town.

One such report was made last night by Franklin Street resident Daniel Boone, who said he has seen at least 10 or 12 people living in a duplex in his neighborhood.

Meanwhile, Milford Water Company Manager Henry Papuga, said his meter-readers have seen at least one basement filled with bunk beds.

In response, the Board of Health is now considering new town bylaws and tough new apartment inspections to prevent overcrowding and keep the health risks from spreading.

Town Counsel Gerald Moody and the Board of Selectmen sent a memo to the Board of Health, proposing a team of police, fire, building and health inspectors to investigate cases of residential overcrowding. Last night the Board of Health agreed to participate.

The Board of Health also discussed new laws limiting the number of occupants allowed to live in one house, along with fines for violations. New bylaws to prevent multiple families from purchasing and living in single-family homes were also proposed.

Board member Kenneth Evans also suggested the town hire more inspectors, or possibly hire its own staff of nurses to relieve the suddenly large burden of TB testing on the VNA.

"I think with the next budget, we should bring it up and talk about it with the Finance Committee," Evans said.

But, while the Board of Health believes there are serious public health concerns related to overcrowding, without new bylaws and additional inspectors, Mazzuchelli said little can be done to prevent it. "We react to a complaint. There's really nothing to prevent anything from happening," he said.


http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/local ... eid=109388