My work requires being around TB patients. Is this safe?

I am studying to be a psychologist and this summer my university has assigned me to work at a shelter for homeless men. This is in New Delhi, India. When I began to go there two days ago I realised that a substantial proportion of these men - probably 25% - suffer from tuberculosis and are undergoing treatment for it. They are required to cover their mouth and nose with masks but only a few of them are careful enough to do that. Some of them suffer from Multiple Drug Resistant (MDR) TB.


My fellow students asked a doctor who visits the shelter every evening if we are at a risk of infection and he brushed it aside, saying that he has been working with people with TB for decades and has never got the illness because his immune system is good. He told us to eat a good breakfast before we get there and stay hydrated. That's all that is needed, according to him.

Now, I have serious concerns about this situation. From the statistics I found online, 22% of those who work in settings where TB patients live get infected with the TB bacteria. Of these, 10% develop the disease TB and thus have what is called an 'active infection'. In the case of the rest, they can remain in a state of 'latent infection' for years and decades, and may become actively infected when some other situation weakens the immune system, or never get the active infection their whole lives.

I don't feel right taking this situation as lightly as the doctor. My fellow students, my supervisors at the university, and the staff at the shelter all seem to be taking this rather lightly too.

For almost half a year now, I have been dealing with a congested liver that aches and causes significant lymphatic congestion in my head and making it difficult to focus my eyes properly. It is also one of the causes of my graying hair. To me, this is a sign of an immune system that is not working well, since the lymph and liver are important components of the immune system. So, if the immune system is what one is counting on to keep one protected, I think mine is more compromised than most people's. I also have a history of other illnesses - jaundice, sciatica, kidney issues.

Even if I did not have this health condition, I would be wary of being in a situation were 1 out of 4 people is going to get the latent infection and carry it for the rest of their lives. Even if mainstream Science considers this not very harmful, I don't understand how it can be a good idea to expose oneself to seriously harmful bacteria, with the possibility of carrying it in one's body, even if it is not going to cause an active illness. From what I understand, one of the criticisms of vaccination is that it injects pathogens into the body which may not cause the particular 'active illness' that the vaccine is for, but they remain in the body at a low level of intensity and strain the immune system which fights them for decades, which in itself is a drain on the body and a cause of seemingly unrelated illnesses.

Also, I realise that microbes don't cause illness but only precipitate it by attacking toxins that already exist in the body. I think my body has a significant amount of toxins, so exposing myself to harmful microbes is not a good idea.

I am not studying to be a medical doctor so I am not committed to helping people with physical illnesses. Hence, I don't think it is reasonable for me, given my particular health condition, and for anyone really, to expose themselves to TB unless they are committing themselves to a profession which involves these risks.

I would appreciate if anyone would share their views on this. At this moment these are only my concerns while everyone around me seems to think I am being paranoid. I need to soon take a stand which may have serious consequences, both socially and professionally. Writing out this message also helps me clarify my own thoughts before I communicate it to others at work.

I will need to go to this shelter for a year, a few times a week.

I will meet a Tibetan medicine doctor that I am seeing for my liver condition but I am not sure if he would really take a stand on this.

Thank you for reading and I hope to get some views that will help me understand the risks here better.






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