Wilkes County Health Department Investigating Tuberculosis Cases at NC Department of Correction, Wilkes Correctional Center.
July 6, 2011
Contact: Denise Monahan (336) 651-7450
The Wilkes County Health Dept and the Wilkes Correctional Facility continue to work very closely in monitoring for signs of tuberculosis and treating any suspect cases. Since November, there have been four confirmed cases of Tuberculosis. Because of the ongoing, collaborative efforts in follow-up screenings for tuberculosis, a fourth case has been identified.
“We believe all inmates with symptoms have been identified and are being appropriately treated,” said Wilkes County Interim Health Director Ann Absher. “We appreciate the efforts of the Wilkes Correctional Facility staff and inmates as we continue to work to manage any potential concerns regarding tuberculosis.”
“Tuberculosis infection may not be detected by a skin test until up to two months after exposure, so our standard procedure is to repeat skin tests in eight weeks on all employees and inmates to determine if those persons may have been infected,” said Dr. Jason Stout, medical director of the N.C. Tuberculosis Control Program at the N.C. Division of Public Health. “Most infected persons are not sick and not contagious, and can take medicine to prevent getting sick in the future."
Tuberculosis a disease that often affects the lungs. It is transmitted when a sick person coughs, sneezes, or speaks. The germs are expelled into the air, and if a nearby person breathes them in, that person can become infected with TB. Tuberculosis is curable with medications. For more information on TB, visit the N.C. Tuberculosis Control Program website by clicking here.
For more information, call the Wilkes County Health Department at 336-651-7450 or visit the website www.wilkeshealth.com