STOCKTON—

Eduardo Rosas Cruz has tuberculosis, which normally wouldn’t be anyone else’s business.

Today, however, it is our business. The county health department believes this 26-year-old man could be contagious, and a danger to anyone nearby.

“Our aim is to find him and detain him,” said Dr. Alvaro Garza, health officer with the San Joaquin County Health Department.

Health officials say it started when Cruz came in to the San Joaquin County General Hospital. Since officials say Cruz is homeless, the county paid for a room at the Capri Motel to get him off the streets and away from other people.

But, it didn’t work. Cruz, we’re told, went AWOL. County officers say they can’t force the treatment, but they can force him not to be near anyone else.

That’s exactly what they’re doing; the district attorney’s office has a warrant for Cruz’s arrest for refusing to comply with a tuberculosis order.

“It’s a crime because it’s the law. The law says a health officer can order people to appear to appear for evaluation, analysis and treatment,” said Garza.

Officials say within the past 7 years, they’ve had 392 TB cases. Only 4, including Cruz, have been non-compliant.