Southwest PA News

Charleroi, a small town in southwestern Pennsylvania located 30 miles south of Pittsburgh with a population of 4,210, is facing a public health concern following the recent diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in one of its high school students.

The student’s diagnosis comes amid an increase in Haitian immigrants arriving under the federal CHNV Humanitarian Parole program, with nearly 2,500 Haitians now residing in the community.

Charleroi’s school district is among those affected by the influx of Haitian immigrants, and the tuberculosis case has raised additional concern.

A Haitian immigrant in Charleroi. | X / Steve Cortes

Nate Hochman, an activist and executive director of the conservative think tank America 2100, has been vocal about the impacts of this influx on the town. 

Hochman has filmed several videos in Charleroi, focusing on local complaints about Haitian immigrants. On social media, he expressed alarm over the revelation that tuberculosis had been detected in the school system.

“Charleroi is a small town in Pennsylvania,” Hochman said on X. “In the past few years, it’s been flooded with thousands of Haitian immigrants.”

“The school system has seen an 1,800% increase in non-English speaking students,” Hochman said. “Now, a student just tested positive for tuberculosis.”

The Daily Mail reported that panic erupted in Charleroi after a high school student attended class despite being diagnosed with TB and not receiving medical clearance to return. The student had been diagnosed weeks earlier but showed up to class on Jan. 9, prompting immediate isolation and a response from the Charleroi Area School District.

Charleroi Area School District Superintendent Dr. Edward J. Zelich sent a letter to the community after the tuberculosis diagnosis surfaced. The letter outlined the district’s response to the health issue. 

“I am writing to provide an update regarding a recent health matter involving one of our high school students,” Zelich wrote. “The student, who attended school today, was diagnosed with tuberculosis a couple of weeks ago.”

“Upon learning that the student had returned without a doctor’s clearance to return to school, we immediately isolated the student and sent them home.”

Zelich went on to reassure the community that the district had consulted with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which deemed the situation not to require further public health action at the moment.

“Earlier today, our principals, school nurses, and I had a detailed discussion with the Pennsylvania Department of Health in Monessen,” Zelich wrote. “After reviewing the situation, they confirmed that no public health action is currently necessary for our district. They have assured us they will promptly notify us if any changes occur or additional public health measures are needed.”

“Please know that we are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to work with the appropriate health authorities to ensure our students and staff's safety and well-being."

The arrival of immigrants in such a short period has led to concerns in the town. 

Haitian immigrants face a higher incidence of TB, a concern given Haiti’s high TB rates, with an incidence of 159 per 100,000 people as of 2021. Comparatively, the TB incidence rate in the United States was 2.9 cases per 100,000 people in 2023.

The high rate of TB in Haiti is compounded by the presence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB), with 2.2% of new cases and 14% of previously treated cases classified as MDR-TB. 

Communities with large groups of Haitian immigrants, such as Charleroi, are at higher risk for TB transmission.

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), such as Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) Pittsburgh, have been involved in the placement of Haitians in Charleroi. These groups receive government grants to assist with resettling immigrants.

Some locals have expressed frustration over the population increase, citing a lack of involvement in decision-making about immigration policy.

This situation is part of broader debates about Haitian immigration, with similar trends observed in other Rust Belt towns and political discussions regarding the Biden administration’s immigration policies.