Lynn health center: no new TB cases

LYNN – Testing for additional Lynn Community Health Center tuberculosis cases is halfway completed, and a center doctor said no new cases have been confirmed since a health worker tested positive three weeks ago for the disease.Working with local and state health officials, the center began contacting and testing patients and workers around Labor Day when the male health worker tested positive for tuberculosis.Center chief medical officer Dr. Scott Early said about 1,000 people “who were potential contacts with the worker” dating back to February received letters urging them to come to the center and get screened for tuberculosis exposure.About half have come to the center and have been tested, and Early said center workers will make follow-up telephone calls to reach out to anyone who has not responded to the screening letter.?We know all 1,000 won?t respond to the letters, but, at the end of the day, we want 100 percent screened,” he said.A test indicating someone has been exposed to tuberculosis does not mean the individual has tuberculosis, said center Director Lori Berry. Tuberculosis is an airborne bacterial disease that can be fatal “if not treated properly,” according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website explanation.?Not everyone infected with TB bacteria becomes sick,” the site stated.Early said the worker is “doing well, being treated appropriately” and expected to return to work in two or three weeks.?He is quarantined at home,” Early said.Center patient Nitzarai Cotto called the worker?s exposure to tuberculosis “really, really scary” and said she wants assurances her child will not be exposed to the disease during doctor?s visits to the 269 Union St. medical facility.With screening ongoing, Early said patients and other center visitors do not need to take precautions keeping appointments in the center. He said the state Department of Public Health?s “leading tuberculosis doctor” has visited the center as testing continues.Kirsten Anderson heard about the testing while watching a television news broadcast. She is confident center workers are keeping patients safe as tuberculosis testing continues.?I?m sure they?re on top of it,” she said.Magdelene Fonta said the center should give patients more information about how to detect tuberculosis warning signs and avoid contracting the bacteria.?They need to tell all patients what they are supposed to do to stay well,” she said.