Health

TB Exposure Affects Multiple Services at Father Joe’s Villages

An arm with a TB test Image Credit: CDC
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The Tuberculosis Control program (TB Control) in the Public Health Services department, of the County of San Diego (County) Health and Human Services Agency, and Father Joe’s Villages officials are working in close collaboration to notify staff, volunteers, and clients potentially exposed to tuberculosis (TB) at various Father Joe’s Villages Programs. These include the Inclement Weather Shelter, San Diego Day Center, Food Services, Employment and Education Services, and Village Health Center.

The dates of potential exposure are from January 14, 2023, to March 3, 2023.

TB is an airborne disease that is transmitted from person-to-person through inhalation of the bacteria from the air. The bacteria are spread when someone sick with TB coughs, speaks, sings, or breathes. People with frequent and prolonged indoor exposure to a person who is sick with TB should get tested.

People experiencing homelessness are at increased risk for TB for a variety of reasons. These include a higher risk for getting infected in congregate settings, challenges regarding access to healthcare for people experiencing homelessness, and the presence of certain medical conditions that may be more common and/or severe among people experiencing homelessness.

While the rate of TB is much higher among people who have experienced homelessness, among people with TB disease in San Diego County, 90% of people who are diagnosed with TB have not been recently homeless. Health concerns like TB highlight the importance of work being done by organizations in the region, like Father Joe’s Villages, that work to address the challenges faced by people experiencing homelessness.

“Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss,” said Wilma Wooten, M.D., County public health officer. “Most people who become infected after exposure to tuberculosis do not get sick right away. This is called latent TB infection. Some who become infected with tuberculosis will become ill in the future, sometimes even years later, if their latent TB infection is not treated. Blood tests and skin tests are effective to determine whether someone has been infected.”

Effective treatments are available to cure people who are sick from active TB. It is especially important for individuals with symptoms of active TB and those who are immune compromised to see a medical provider to rule out active TB and to discuss treatment.

People who test positive for TB but who don’t have symptoms of active TB should get a chest x-ray and talk to a medical provider, as they most likely have a latent TB infection.  People in this situation are infected with TB, but the infection is essentially dormant or “sleeping.” Taking medicines for latent TB infection can cure the infection and keep these people from getting sick.

 

Cassie N. Saunders is a communications specialist with the County of San Diego Communications Office. Contact