Nashua health officials search for homeless man with tuberculosis

April 4, 2026 - 04:22

A New Hampshire judge has issued a stern order for a homeless man in Nashua, diagnosed with an active and contagious case of tuberculosis, to immediately enter into isolation. The directive mandates that the individual must comply with treatment and isolation protocols or face arrest.

Local health officials are actively searching for the man, whose identity has not been publicly released, citing an urgent public health risk. Tuberculosis is a serious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs and is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The active form of the disease is highly transmissible, especially in close-quarter settings common among vulnerable homeless populations.

The court's rare step underscores the gravity of the situation. Public health authorities emphasize that the order is a last resort, taken only after extensive efforts to locate the individual and ensure he voluntarily receives necessary medical care. The primary goal remains getting the man into a safe, supervised medical environment where he can receive treatment, which typically takes several months, and where the risk to the broader community can be contained.

Law enforcement is now involved in the search, acting on the court's authority to detain the man if necessary to protect public health. Officials are urging anyone with information to contact the Nashua Health Department.