65 People Test Positive For Tuberculosis At Adult Day Care In EP

After testing people for possible tuberculosis exposure at an adult daycare, the results have come back positive for at least 65 people.

The El Paso Public Health officials have confirmed after testing 200 people for possible tuberculosis exposure earlier this month, 65 of those test results came back positive.

Earlier this month, health officials tested people at a local adult daycare after one person in their care tested positive about a year ago. From there, the La Victoria Adult Day Care proceeded to test 200 people, both clients and employees, starting on April 11th. Of the 65 people who tested positive, none of the cases were active strains of TB. The health officials are now conducting additional testing on those 65 persons to check the status of their TB.

According to Robert Resendes, the Public Health Director and KTSM:

"While this is a relatively high rate of positivity, we must also consider, among other factors, that any elderly population will likely have higher positivity rates due to prior exposure. A positive test could be unrelated to this particular exposure event."

Tuberculos is "is a potentially serious infectious disease that mainly affects your lungs. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are spread from one person to another through tiny droplets released into the air via coughs and sneezes."

A person who suffers from latent, or inactive TB, has the bacteria in their body but it shows no symptoms and isn't contagious, but it can turn into active TB. A person who has active TB shows symptoms like coughing that lasts three or more weeks, coughing up blood, loss of appetite, chills, night sweats, fever and chest pain.

Find out more information at the City of El Paso Health Department website.