Infectious TB patient jailed
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Authorities in central Illinois have jailed a 24-year-old tuberculosis patient for disobeying a court order to stay in his home while his condition is infectious.
Champaign-Urbana Public Health District Administrator Julie Pryde says Christian Mbemba Ibanda has been in jail since last Thursday. He's being held on contempt of court charges in the Piatt County jail in Monticello. Champaign County's jail doesn't have a cell with negative air pressure to prevent the spread of disease.
Court documents say Ibanda repeatedly left home and that a quarantine sign was removed from his door twice. The patient's movements were being tracked with an electronic ankle bracelet following the court order.
The (Champaign) News-Gazette reported that Ibanda denied the allegations at a hearing held at the Piatt County jail on Tuesday.