DCHD Tuberculosis announced on Thursday the confirmation of a single case of tuberculosis (TB), prompting officials to investigate the potential of additional cases among the 500 individuals exposed. Parents were alerted by email on Wednesday regarding a potential exposure at the Westview YMCA daycare.

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In an email statement on Thursday, a DCHD spokesperson conveyed the imminent declaration of a public health emergency due to the perceived risk to the population and the potential for widespread illness.

Tuberculosis

The health department is set to conduct an informational meeting for parents at Westview YMCA on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. The exposures under scrutiny occurred at the Westview YMCA daycare from late spring to late October.

DCHD is actively investigating the contagious patient’s activities to identify potential exposures, facilitate isolation, and monitor the completion of medication until they test negative for TB. Efforts are underway to inform parents and individuals with close contact with the patient, with TB testing recommended only for those with repeated close contact.

TB vaccines are not commonly administered in the U.S., according to the CDC, except in countries where tuberculosis is prevalent, primarily to infants and young children.

Children’s Nebraska will offer testing clinics over the weekend for children aged 4 and under who may have been exposed to TB in the last 10 weeks. DCHD will also organize clinics at Westview YMCA from Nov. 15-17 for children potentially exposed between late May and Aug. 21.

Emphasizing the treatability of TB and its relative rarity, the health department clarified that close contact involves prolonged interaction with a contagious person, such as extended time spent together, excluding brief encounters in places like cafeterias, hallways, restrooms, or gymnasiums. DCHD reported 15 confirmed TB cases in 2022 and 15 cases through Sept. 30 this year, while the CDC documented over 8,000 cases in the U.S. in the current year.

Symptoms of TB encompass a persistent cough, chest pain, coughing up blood or sputum, weakness, weight loss, loss of appetite, chills, fever, and night sweats.