Nashua Officials Search for Homeless Man with Active Tuberculosis

A judge has ordered the man to isolate or face arrest as health officials try to stop the illness from spreading.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 7:52pm

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A ghostly, translucent X-ray image showing the faint outlines of tuberculosis lesions in a human lung, conveying the clinical and investigative nature of this public health crisis.An X-ray image reveals the internal damage caused by tuberculosis, a highly contagious respiratory illness that public health officials are urgently trying to contain.Nashua Today

A 41-year-old homeless man named Nearro Forbes has been ordered by a New Hampshire judge to isolate for 30 days and receive proper medical treatment for his active tuberculosis diagnosis, which he has had since July 2025. Nashua health officials say Forbes has refused treatment and disappeared for months, only to resurface at a local warming shelter still infectious. They are now searching for Forbes and conducting contact tracing to prevent the illness from spreading further in the community.

Why it matters

Tuberculosis is a highly contagious respiratory illness, and public health officials have a responsibility to protect the community by ensuring those with active cases receive proper treatment. However, cases involving homeless individuals can be challenging, as they may face barriers to accessing consistent healthcare and have complex social determinants of health that contribute to their refusal of treatment.

The details

According to Nashua public health officials, Nearro Forbes has had active tuberculosis since July 2025 but has repeatedly refused treatment and disappeared for months at a time. He recently resurfaced at a local warming shelter, still infectious, prompting the Department of Health and Human Services to issue a complaint about his failure to isolate. A judge has now ordered Forbes to isolate for 30 days and get proper medical treatment, or face arrest.

  • Forbes was first diagnosed with tuberculosis in July 2025.
  • He stopped complying with his medication regimen and disappeared in the fall of 2025.
  • Forbes resurfaced at a Nashua warming shelter in March 2026, still infectious.

The players

Nearro Forbes

A 41-year-old homeless man who has had active tuberculosis since July 2025 but has repeatedly refused treatment.

Bobbie D. Bagley

The Nashua public health director, who says they are searching for Forbes to get him the necessary treatment.

Flavia Martin

The deputy chief public health nurse for Nashua, who says Forbes stopped complying with his medication and disappeared for months.

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What they’re saying

“At this point in time, we do not know where he is.”

— Bobbie D. Bagley, Nashua public health director

“Unfortunately, we lost track of him. He stopped being daily compliant with the medication regimen and kind of slept under the system.”

— Flavia Martin, Deputy chief public health nurse for Nashua

“He resurfaced back again in March of this year, and he is still infectious at this point.”

— Flavia Martin, Deputy chief public health nurse for Nashua

What’s next

The judge has ordered Nearro Forbes to isolate for 30 days and receive proper medical treatment for his tuberculosis. If he fails to comply, a warrant will be issued for his arrest.

The takeaway

This case highlights the challenges public health officials face in ensuring treatment compliance, especially among vulnerable populations like the homeless. It underscores the importance of robust contact tracing and the need for comprehensive social services to address the complex factors that can lead to treatment refusal.