Courtesy graphic

ROBERT PIERCE

   • Leader & Times

 

Local health officials have identified four cases of active tuberculosis and 98 cases of inactive or latent TB in the last 12 months.

That news came from a press release issued by the Seward County Health Department and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, and the release said local testing for TB has been done through doctors offices and at SCHD, along with a local mass testing event in March 2024.

The release emphasized there is minimal risk to the general public at this time. It went on to explain the two types of TB.

“Inactive/latent TB is when the TB germs living in the body without making you sick,” the release said. “Without treatment, people with inactive/latent TB can develop active TB disease at any time and become sick. People with inactive/latent TB do not have symptoms and are not contagious.”

The release went on to say active TB is when germs become active and the immune system cannot stop them from growing.

“People with active TB disease feel sick, and without treatment, active TB can be fatal,” the release said.

Next, the release said TB is spread through the air from one person to another by coughing, laughing, singing and sneezing.

“The only way to contract the disease is by frequent or close contact with someone who has an active case of the disease,” the release said. “It cannot be spready by contact with someone’s clothing, drinking glass, eating utensils, handshakes, toilets, bed linens or other surfaces.”

The release likewise explained symptoms of TB can include a cough of longer than three weeks, unexplained weight loss, night chills, fever and coughing up blood.

“People with active TB disease are most likely to spread germs to people they spend time with every day,” the release said. “If you are experiencing symptoms of TB, you can contact your physician’s office, local urgent care, or with life-threatening symptoms, present to the nearest emergency room.”

The release added TB is preventable and curable.

“TB disease is typically treated for six to nine months with antibiotics,” the release said. “A person with TB will become non-contagious within a few days to weeks of effective treatment and will be able to return to normal activities without risk to others while completing treatment. There is currently no vaccine for prevention of TB in the United States. SCHD assures all known active TB cases in the county are followed closely and treated appropriately. SCHD works closely with KDHE to ensure all precautions are being taken for the safety of all in the community.”

For more information about TB, visit cdc.gov/tb.

No comments

Comments are closed

The comments for this content have been closed automatically; it's been a while since it was published.

Pick a language

search

Sports

Squeaky Clean Weather report

Weather in Ashburn

18th February, 2025 - 17:53
Clear Sky
30°F 28°F min 32°F max
6:57 17:50
Humidity: 32 %
Wind: 11.5 mph North
Visibility: 32,808 ft

Kansas News

Kansas Informer

Log in to comment