[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Health Department Investigating After Active TB Case Discovered in Boone County

[Press Releases]

For Immediate Release
June 8, 2009
 
Contact: Geni Alexander, Public Information Officer
573.874.7632 or gaalexan at GoColumbiaMo.com 
 
Health Department Responds to Active Tuberculosis Case in Boone County
Contact Investigation is Underway
 
The Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Human
Services is investigating after a case of active tuberculosis (TB) was
identified in Boone County. As mandated by federal law, officials from
the health department are conducting contact investigations and
following up with those identified as a close contact of the case.
Disease investigators are scheduling TB skin-tests for those who may
have been exposed. Officials from University of Missouri Health Care and
the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services are assisting with
the investigation.
 
There are two types of TB – latent TB and active TB. Most individuals
infected with the TB bacteria have no symptoms, are not contagious and
have normal chest X-rays. This is called latent TB infection. Those with
latent TB infection do not spread TB. However, an individual with latent
TB infection may at some point develop active TB disease and become
contagious. Symptoms of active TB disease may include a cough that lasts
longer than three weeks, spitting up blood, night sweats and/or
unexpected weight loss. According to the CDC, one-third of the world’s
population carries the TB bacteria.
 
The TB bacteria is only spread through close contact with someone who
has active TB disease. When someone with active TB disease coughs,
sneezes, sings or talks and another person nearby breathes in the
bacteria over an extended period of time, in close quarters with little
ventilation, that other person is at risk of being infected with TB.
This does not mean they will progress immediately to active TB disease,
just that they might become a latent TB case and at some point progress
to active TB disease. TB is not spread by dishes, drinking glasses,
sheets, clothing or by touching someone with the disease. 
 
The health department reminds citizens that if you are identified as a
close contact of an active TB case investigation such as this, it is
important to comply with the investigation, including all follow-up
visits when scheduled, as untreated TB infection can develop into active
TB disease. 
 
Individuals with questions or concerns about possible exposure should
contact MU Health Care at 573.884.2401 or visit www.muhealth.org (
http://www.muhealth.org/ ). Citizens who have questions about
tuberculosis may speak with a public health nurse by calling
573.874.6374 or visit www.cdc.gov/tb/ 
 
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