Health & Fitness
Tuberculosis Case Reported At Las Colinas Women’s Jail In Santee
A person tested positive for tuberculosis and may have exposed other people at Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility in Santee.
By José A. Álvarez, County of San Diego Communications Office
A person tested positive for tuberculosis and may have exposed other people at Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility [located at 451 Riverview Pkwy in Santee], the County Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) announced today.
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HHSA is working with the Sheriff’s Department to notify people who were potentially exposed to tuberculosis at the women’s jail. The period of potential exposure occurred from Aug. 5, 2019 to Dec. 6, 2019.
The Sheriff’s Department is offering free testing for its staff and all identified people in custody. HHSA’s TB Control Program is testing, at no cost, all identified people who do not have a medical provider.
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Tuberculosis is transmitted from person to person through indoor air during prolonged contact with an infectious individual. Most people who are exposed do not become infected.
“Testing is recommended for people who were exposed to make sure they are not infected, since initial infection usually has no symptoms,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., County public health officer. “For any infected people, early diagnosis and prompt treatment can prevent the infectious form of the disease.”
Symptoms of active TB disease include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. For people with symptoms of TB, or those with compromised immune systems and who may not show symptoms, it is important that the person sees their medical provider to rule out TB. TB can be treated and cured with antibiotics.
The number of annual TB cases in San Diego County has decreased since the early 1990s and has stabilized in recent years. There were 237 cases reported in 2017 and 226 in 2018. To date, 208 cases have been reported in 2019.
People who would like more information about this potential exposure are asked to call:
- San Diego County TB Control Program at (619) 692-8621
- Sheriff’s Department Infection Control at (858) 974-5971
This press release was produced by the San Diego County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.
