June 5, 2007
Montanan on Flight with Atlanta TB Patient
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have notified the state Department of Public Health and Human Services (DPHHS) that a Montanan was on board one of the flights taken by an Atlanta man who is currently hospitalized in Denver with an extremely serious form of tuberculosis.
DPHHS public health officials are working closely with the Missoula City-County Health Department, which has contacted the person and begun appropriate follow-up based on CDC recommendations. Health officials cannot release the name of the Montanan or any other identifying information due to confidentiality laws.
“It’s important to emphasize that this person is being appropriately tested and monitored, and there is no risk to anyone they come in contact with,” said Denise Ingman, TB program officer with DPHHS.
She said a person cannot spread TB germs to others simply because he or she has been exposed to or is infected with TB. Only a person with active TB disease can spread the bacteria.
“People who are infected can go on to have the disease, but we have an opportunity to treat them and prevent that from happening,” she added.
For more information about TB, visit the CDC website at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/xdrtb/.
