Case of Tuberculosis Reported at MacDill A.F.B.

Submitted by the Hillsborough County Health Department

A presumed case of tuberculosis (TB), involving an employee of MacDill A.F.B. was reported to the Hillsborough County Health Department on July 12.  

As a precautionary measure, the individual has started TB drug therapy, is recovering in isolation, and no longer poses a health risk to others.  With assistance from the 6th Medical Group Public Health Flight, the Hillsborough County Health Department Tuberculosis Center has notified approximately 50
co-workers and community members who were at risk of exposure and will begin testing those individuals this week.

"An investigation of the individual's household, place of work, and other
close contacts is ongoing," said Charman Benemon, Hillsborough County Health
Department Public Health nurse.  "We are working closely with public health
officials at MacDill to ensure the health and safety of all their employees
and community members."

Members of the Hillsborough County Health Department Tuberculosis Center will
conduct testing Tuesday, and will return Friday to read the results.

TB is a disease that usually infects the lungs, but can affect other parts of
the body, causing serious illness.  It is spread when an infected person coughs, talks, sings, or sneezes untreated TB germs into the air.  Persons who breathe in the germs can become infected; but typically, only persons who have had very close, day-to-day contact with the infected person run the risk of contracting the disease.  TB is less contagious than measles, mumps, chicken
pox, and influenza, and, even if a person is infected, the disease may remain
dormant and not contagious to others.

For more information about TB, visit
www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/tb.htm.