Active Tuberculosis Contact Tracing & Screening - 2022/12/09 ��gpP1 COp�a?
NEWS RELEASE
December 9,2022
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 Contact Tracing & Screening
Mason County Public Health &Human Services has identified an individual with active case of
tuberculosis (TB) at Choice High School in Shelton. The person is in treatment and in isolation;
they are not at risk of spreading illness.
Staff from Mason County Public Health and the Washington Department of Health (DOH) are
investigating the case and tracing any possible contacts. People who may have been exposed to TB
have been identified and notified directly, and free TB screening is being conducted for all people
identified as close contacts.
Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium that usually infects 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 5-10% of people infected with TB will develop active TB disease which symptoms can
include:
• 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
Tuberculosis is treatable with antibiotics.
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. If you have questions, please call the TB Information Line at(360) 427-9670 Ext
599.
Keri Gardner, MD, MPH, FACEP
Mason County Health Officer
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COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
9 de diciembre, 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: Revisi6n y rastreo de contactos por infecci6n activa de tuberculosis
La oficina de Salud Publica y Servicios Humanos del condado de Mason(Mason County Public
Health &Human Services) ha identificado un caso de infecci6n activa de tuberculosis en Choice
High School de Shelton. La persona afectada esta en tratamiento y aislamiento; no tiene riesgo de
propagar la enfermedad.
Personal de esta oficina y del Departamento de Salud del Estado de Washington (DOH) estan
investigando la situaci6n. Las personas que han sido expuestas a la tuberculosis han sido notificadas
directamente, y se estan haciendo pruebas de tuberculosis gratuitas a todas las personas
identificadas de haber tenido contacto con la persona afectada.
La tuberculosis es causada por una bacteria que comunmente ataca los pulmones,pero tambi6n
puede afectar los rifiones, columna, cerebro y otras partes del cuerpo. Se transmite entre personas a
trav6s de gotas suspendidas en el aire por una persona infectada cuando tose, estornuda, o respira
fuerte. No se transmite con contacto fisico casual como dar la mano o compartir comida o bebida.
Solo entre el 5 — 10% de las personas infectadas avanzan a una infecci6n activa de tuberculosis, con
sintomas tales como:
• tos fuerte por tres semanas o mas, a veces con sangre o flema
• dolor de pecho
• cansancio
• p6rdida de peso
• falta de apetito
• escalofrios
• fiebre
• sudar profusamente de noche
La oficina difundira mas detalles, cuando est6n disponibles, a trav6s de su pagina web. Para mas
informaci6n sobre la tuberculosis, haga click aqui. Si tiene preguntas, flame a la linea de
informaci6n sobre la tuberculosis al (360)427-9670 Ext 599.
K--� '
Keri Gardner, MD, MPH, FACEP
Mason County Health Officer