SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - A tuberculosis patient has been charged in California after authorities said he failed to take medication for the highly contagious disease.

     

Thirty-four-year-old Armando Rodriguez of Stockton was arrested on Tuesday.

     

San Joaquin County prosecutors have charged him with two counts of refusing to comply with a tuberculosis order to be at home and make appointments to take his medication.

     

Rodriguez was diagnosed with the disease by a county health center in April.

     

He is accused of missing an appointment at the health center and not being home on three occasions when officials went to observe him take the drugs.

     

Rodriguez is expected to be arraigned on Thursday. Prosecutors say he will likely be appointed a public defender.

      

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