Why does the CF Foundation have a policy to exclude people with B. cepacia from events, meetings and offices?
The first documented cases of people with CF getting B. cepacia from others with the disease happened in a casual setting in the late 1980s. However, concerns about the spreading of B. cepacia had been raised before in the context of “CF camps.” The CF Foundation believes the risks of B. cepacia and potential impact on the health of those with CF is significant. As we learn more about the risks of B. cepacia and how people get it, we are compelled ethically and legally to take stronger steps to minimize the risk of spreading the infection among people with CF. To ensure the healthiest environment for the CF community, we believe this strong position is necessary. The policy affects the participation by individuals with CF and B. cepacia at CF Foundation fundraisers, planning meetings, visitors to offices, as well as volunteers at CF Foundation chapters. Other organizations that have implemented this type of policy, such as the Cystic Fibrosis Worldwide and the United States Association
