TB Patient Asked to Testify Before Senate

"It's amazing to see so many people ... show you so much compassion," he said.

ByABC News via logo
February 10, 2009, 2:49 PM

June 6, 2007 — -- Andrew Speaker, the tuberculosis patient whose return flight from Europe set off an international health scare, has been asked to testify before the Senate.

The House Homeland Security Committee is expected to question authorities today about how Speaker, whose name was on security watch list, got through the border between Canada and the United States.

The incident, which set off a media frenzy over the past week, highlighted gaps in national security, Speaker told "Good Morning America" anchor Diane Sawyer Wednesday by phone from the National Jewish Medical Center in Denver.

"I think it obviously did show that, but that obviously wasn't our goal," he said, noting that he hopes some good comes out of the situation. "I hope that some policy is put into effect [that] when people are in trouble, we should go and get them."

Speaker made several flights through Europe for his wedding and honeymoon, knowing he was infected with an extremely drug-resistant form of TB. Speaker, however, said he was told repeatedly by his doctors that he was not contagious.

Doctors recently gave Speaker a third sputum test, which is taken from deep inside the lungs. The results came back negative, meaning he is not very infectious.

"It means that I'm hopefully going to get allowed a little more flexibility in getting out and moving around," he said. "But there's an understanding as well. There's a worry with how this has been discussed in the media. [We want to] make sure the people are comfortable."

Speaker is also currently receiving treatment and said he's not experiencing any side effects.

"[I'm] just taking them when I'm told, and things are going really well," he said.

Speaker said he has been grateful for people's expressions of sympathy for him and his family.

"Since the last time we talked, I've had so many people contact my family, myself -- just strangers sending stuff to the hospital, wishing me well," he said. "It's amazing to see so many people who don't know you show you so much compassion. I'd just like to say thank-you to all of them."