There’s a growing health concern with hundreds of illegal immigrants crossing over into southern Texas. U.S. Border Patrol agents are worried that what’s coming over into the U.S. could harm everyone.
This time the focus is not on the women and children that are crossing over in droves. Agents are worrying about a viral outbreak.
“We are sending people everywhere. The average person doesn’t know what’s going on down here,” said Border Patrol agent and Rio Grande Valley Union representative Chris Cabrera.
Cabrera says agents are seeing illegal immigrants come over with contagious infections.
Detention centers and holding facilities have quarantined areas for those who come in sick. But Cabrera says the sick and healthy are separated only by caution tape.
“There’s been an outbreak of scabies that’s been going on for the past month,” Cabrera said.
Texas border resident Jorge Garcia says word about the contagious skin infection is getting around.
“Our Border Patrol agents check on us all the time and they told us about the outbreak of scabies,” Garcia said.
Cabrera says the sickness doesn’t stop at scabies. “We are starting to see chicken pox, MRSA staph infections, we are starting to see different viruses,” Cabrera said.
