Public Health - Seattle & King County is actively addressing a recent development involving a confirmed case of active tuberculosis (TB) within the Regency Senior Living community in Newcastle. The health department is taking swift action to assess and manage potential exposure risks, ensuring the well-being of both residents and staff.
TB: A Misunderstood Infection
TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria that spread through the air. Contrary to popular belief, TB is not easily transmitted. It requires prolonged and repeated exposure in enclosed indoor spaces to become infected. Even in households with a contagious TB patient, only about one-third of close household members are likely to contract the infection.
Evaluation Details
As a precautionary measure, Public Health has recommended TB evaluations for 28 individuals associated with the facility. These evaluations include a medical risk assessment and a TB test, and the facility will directly contact those who need to undergo this process. All staff, patients, and their families are being informed about the situation, regardless of their exposure level.
Latent TB vs. Active TB
It's important to distinguish between latent TB infection and active TB disease. While people with latent TB cannot spread the infection and are not ill, they may develop active TB in the future, posing a risk to others. Approximately 5% of those with latent TB will progress to active TB within two years, and another 5% will develop it over their lifetime.
TB's Impact and Transmission
TB primarily affects the lungs but can also impact lymph nodes, bones, joints, and other body parts. An individual with active TB in the lungs can spread the disease through coughing or sneezing. In King County, 110 new TB cases were reported in 2024, with an average of about two cases diagnosed weekly.
Public Health's TB Control Program
Public Health's TB Control Program plays a crucial role in managing TB cases and preventing their spread. This program ensures that individuals with active TB are diagnosed and treated, and those at high risk of infection are screened. By controlling TB, the program improves community health and saves costs associated with outbreak prevention and the treatment of multi-drug resistant TB.
