Active Tuberculosis and Contact Tracing - 2022/12/02 ��gpP1 COp�a?
NEWS RELEASE
December 2, 2022
MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE
1854 411 N 5TH ST, BLDG 1, SHELTON,WA 98584
TO: KMAS, KRXY, SHELTON-MASON COUNTY JOURNAL, THE OLYMPIAN,
SHELTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,NORTH MASON CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, CITY OF SHELTON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE
SUN
RE: Active Tuberculosis and Contact Tracing
Mason County Public Health &Human Services has identified five active cases of tuberculosis
(TB) in our region. All of the affected people are in treatment and in isolation; they are not at risk of
spreading illness.
One person has died from complications of the infection, a woman between the ages of 40 and 50.
The department is not releasing her name or location to protect her family's privacy.
Staff from Mason County Public Health and the Washington Department of Health (DOH) are
investigating the outbreak and tracing any possible contacts. People who may have been exposed to
TB will be notified.
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium that usually attacks the lungs, but it can also attack the
kidneys, spine,brain, and other body parts. It is spread between people through airborne droplets
expelled from an infected person when they cough, sneeze, or breathe hard. It does not spread
through casual contact such as shaking hands or sharing food or drink.
Only about 5-15% of people infected with TB will develop symptoms, including:
• a bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer, sometimes accompanied by blood or sputum
• chest pain
• weakness or fatigue
• weight loss
• no appetite
• chills
• fever
• sweating at night
Mason County Public Health &Human Services will post more details to our website as they
become available. More information about TB is available at the DOH and the Centers for Disease
Control websites.
Keri Gardner, MD, MPH, FACEP
Mason County Health Officer
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COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
2 de diciembre, 2022
MASON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE
1854 411 N 5TH ST, BLDG 1, SHELTON,WA 98584
Para: KMAS, KRXY, SHELTON-MASON COUNTY JOURNAL, THE OLYMPIAN,
SHELTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,NORTH MASON CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE, CITY OF SHELTON, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COUNCIL, THE
SUN
Sobre: Casos de tuberculosis y rastreo de contactos,
La oficina de Salud Publica y Servicios Humanos del condado de Mason(Mason County Public
Health &Human Services) ha identificado cinco casos de tuberculosis en nuestra region. Todas las
personas afectadas estdn en tratamiento y aislamiento; ninguna estd a riesgo de esparcir la
enfermedad.
Una de las personas ha muerto a causa de complicaciones de la infecci6n, una mujer de entre 40 y
50 anos. La oficina no hard publico su nombre o ubicaci6n para proteger la privacidad de su familia.
Personal de esta oficina y del Departamento de Salud del Estado de Washington(DOH) estdn
investigando el brote y rastreando todos los contactos posibles. Las personas que han sido expuestas
a la tuberculosis serdn notificadas.
La tuberculosis es causada por una bacteria que comunmente ataca los pulmones,pero tambi6n
puede afectar los riiiones, columna, cerebro y otras partes del cuerpo. Se transmite entre personas a
traves de gotas suspendidas en el aire por una persona infectada cuando tose, estornuda, o respira
fuerte. No se transmite con contacto flsico casual como dar la mano o compartir comida o bebida.
Solo el 5-15% de personas infectadas con tuberculosis muestran sintomas, tales como:
• tos fuerte por tres semanas o mds, a veces con sangre o flema
• dolor de pecho
• cansancio
• perdida de peso
• falta de apetito
• escalofrios
• fiebre
• sudar profusamente de noche
La oficina difundird mds detalles, cuando est6n disponibles, a traves de su pdgina web. Para mds
informaci6n sobre la tuberculosis,haga click aqui.
Keri Gardner, MD, MPH, FACEP
Mason County Health Officer