Nebraska Health Officials Test Hundreds of Preschoolers for Tuberculosis
Nebraska health officials are taking swift action in response to an active case of tuberculosis at a day care in Douglas County. After confirming the presence of the disease, the Douglas County Health Department declared a public health emergency and began testing hundreds of preschoolers for tuberculosis.
According to the CNN report, more than 500 people were possibly exposed to the disease at the Westview YMCA drop-in day care between late spring and late October. The health department is working to identify and notify parents of children and anyone else who had close contact with the patient.
In addition to testing children aged 4 and under over the weekend, the health department is organizing clinics at the YMCA on November 15-17 to test anyone who may have been exposed during the specified period. The agency also provided guidance for staff and children who were exposed between August 21 and October 30, including the recommendation for chest X-rays and prophylactic treatment.
The disease, caused by drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria, primarily affects the lungs and can cause symptoms such as coughing, chest pain, and fever. Tuberculosis is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or breathes out the bacteria, particularly in enclosed spaces.
While tuberculosis is a curable disease, it remains a significant global health issue. The World Health Organization reports that about 10 million people fall ill with tuberculosis each year, and approximately 1.5 million die from the disease. Treatment typically involves a standardized course of antibacterial drugs.
The Douglas County Health Department is urging caution and vigilance, particularly for those who may have had close contact with individuals who were infected. The department stresses the importance of testing and monitoring for potential exposures to prevent the spread of tuberculosis within the community.