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Thursday, April 17, 2008

Department of Health Investigates TB in Health Care Worker


The Associated Press
      SANTA FE — Some 250 people in Albuquerque and Clovis are being screened to rule out the spread of tuberculosis after a health care worker was diagnosed with TB.
    The state Department of Health and other agencies already have tested 73 people who came in close contact with the worker, and found no evidence the disease has spread.
    Tuberculosis can be spread from person to person through the air when someone with TB coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. The disease is most likely to spread when people frequently spend time together, and depends on three factors: close contact in confined spaces, the length of contact and the frequency of contact.
    New Mexico reported 51 cases of tuberculosis last year and 48 in 2006. Fifteen cases have been diagnosed so far this year.
    Symptoms include a strong cough that lasts several weeks, coughing up bloody sputum, chest pain, weakness or fatigue, weight loss, appetite loss, chills, fever and night sweats.
    Health officials said they may screen other people as the investigation progresses.
    "We know who was potentially exposed to TB in this case, and we will be in touch with you if we think you need to be tested," said Dr. Marcos Burgos, medical director of the tuberculosis program for the Health Department. "We are contacting individuals who may have been exposed so we can treat them if they are infected."
    Tuberculosis germs can live in the body without making someone sick — what's called latent TB infection. People with a latent infection cannot spread it to others and can be treated to prevent development of the disease. When has the disease, germs are actively growing and can make people sick.
    The disease can be treated by taking medication for six to 12 months.
    Privacy laws forbid the department from identifying the health care worker.
   

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