A health care clinic in Massachusetts is currently testing more than 500 people, including their workers, for tuberculosis after a man tested positive during Labor Day.
Lynn Community Health Center located at Union Street in Massachusetts has already began testing no less than 700 of their patients and around 30 of their health care workers after they discovered one of their staff to be carrying the disease when his test came out as positive. The discovery warranted a comprehensive screening examination for those the man may have come into contact with.
After reaching out to their workers, they immediately sent out warning letters to about 1,000 of their patients, along with the invitation to have themselves tested of tuberculosis. They hope for at least half of the patients to show up. Although it takes as long as 6 months before the first signs of tuberculosis occurs, early detection can mean a more positive reaction to the treatment.
Nevertheless, the clinic and MaryAnn O'Connor, city health director, wants to assure the public the center remains safe and there's no imminent danger even after the positive diagnosis and potential exposure. The clinic is currently open for regular business and O'Connor suggests not to avoid the center.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It can affect different parts of the body including the heart and stomach, although most of the cases target the lungs.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a third of the world's population is suffering from tuberculosis. It is also responsible for over a million deaths worldwide, making it one of the deadliest diseases. Most of these deaths occur in developing countries and in places where low-income families are high.
In order to significantly reduce the number of deaths, the World Health Organization (WHO) launched the directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) program, which was later adopted by many countries. Along with the Stop TB campaign, DOTS has already saved around 22 million people.
This disease has a vaccine and treatments like rifampicin and pyrazinamide. It's essential that newly diagnosed patients follow the recommended treatment program to greatly lessen the chances of developing a drug-resistant TB.