WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — A Massachusetts town says it is “not facing a public health crisis” amid growing concerns over recent tuberculosis cases.
Westboro Public Health Director Jennifer Sullivan said four residents are actively being treated for tuberculosis. Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria that can be spread when a person with an untreated infection coughs or sneezes.
“In response to some of the concerns that have been raised, the Westboro Health Department would like to clarify that Westboro is not facing a public health crisis regarding tuberculosis,” Sullivan said in a statement.
“In some people, the bacteria invade the lungs but do not cause an active infection and do not cause symptoms,” Professor Sullivan explained. “This is called latent tuberculosis and can be detected by testing. People with latent tuberculosis cannot pass it on to others unless they develop active tuberculosis.”
Professor Sullivan warned concerned residents that for tuberculosis to be transmitted to another person, that person usually has to be a close contact for an extended period of time. In some cases, the bacteria do not cause an active infection.
Professor Sullivan said about 5 to 10 per cent of people with latent TB eventually develop active TB, which can be prevented by treatment with medication. He also pointed out that it is standard public health practice for close contacts of active TB patients to be tested for latent TB.
In 2023, Sullivan said, a total of 80 cases of either active TB, latent TB, suspected TB or close contacts of active TB cases were reported in Westboro. In 2022, there were 86 reports.
Symptoms of tuberculosis include a persistent cough that lasts for more than three weeks, weight loss, night sweats, high fever, fatigue or fatigue, loss of appetite, and swelling that does not heal.
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