Mackay Base Hospital’s respiratory department is co-ordinating the care and treatment of two active tuberculosis cases.
There is no connection between both cases. Both individuals are in isolation at home while they receive treatment.
Mackay Hospital and Health Service Executive Director of Medical Services Dr Philip Reasbeck said the hospital’s respiratory team was responding by contacting those who have had extended contact with the people.
One is a staff member at a private Mackay aged care facility and the other has had no contact with a place of employment.
Dr Reasbeck said there would be testing of close contacts of both cases.
“We will begin a testing program in line with stringent public health guidelines,” Dr Reasbeck said.
“We have a world-renowned system for contact tracing and testing in line with public health guidelines and that has now begun,” he said.
Dr Reasbeck said residents and staff of the aged care facility who have had extended contact with the person were being contacted.
He said the risk to the aged care facility and broader community was low.
“There is no cause for alarm. Only those contacted directly by our respiratory team need testing.
“If you or your family are not contacted then you do not need to take any action.
“Tuberculosis is not as easily transmitted as some other respiratory conditions such as coronavirus or influenza,” he said.
In Queensland the risk to the general public of developing tuberculosis is very low, with around 3.5 cases diagnosed per 100,000 people each year.
“Tuberculosis is very treatable and is uncommon in most communities in Australia these days.”
Tuberculosis is spread through air droplets when coughing which are then inhaled by other persons.
Most people exposed to tuberculosis do not develop the disease. Generally, transmission occurs after close and prolonged contact with an infectious case.
The symptoms of tuberculosis include persistent cough for more than two weeks, unexplained weight loss, night sweats and fever.
No further details will be released about the individuals or facility for privacy reasons.
Further information is available at http://conditions.health.qld.gov.au/HealthCondition/condition/15/211/628/Tuberculosis-TB
