Washington, the largest tuberculosis outbreak in 20 years

TB or not? Since the beginning of 2021, Washington state doctors and public health authorities may have asked this type of question much more often. And that’s not good. In the state, 199 cases of tuberculosis (short for tuberculosis) were reported in 2021, and 70 cases were already reported in just four months until 2022. Washington State Health Department announced on April 28The state has shown the largest outbreak of tuberculosis in the last 20 years.

Last year’s total tuberculosis increased by 22% from the previous year. The number of reported cases of tuberculosis actually decreased in 2020 compared to 2019. But before you say “Yeah, 2020,” remember that 2020 was when a small thing called the Covid-19 pandemic began. This meant that many tuberculosis prevention services and clinics could be closed or understaffed. In addition, many people may avoid setting up health care.As a result, people infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis Mycobacterium tuberculosis Bacteria may be spreading unknowingly because they have not been diagnosed. As a result, in Coldplay’s words, the number of new cases may have increased steadily.

The announcement states that MPH, MD, Ph.D., Taoschen Kwanget, Washington’s Chief Scientific Officer, said: Pandemics may have contributed to the increase in cases and outbreaks in at least one correctional facility. ”

The announcement also included a statement from Mary Anchor, Maryland, Chief Medical Officer of the Washington State Corrections Bureau (DOC). Keep in touch with staff, their imprisoned people, and their families as needed. “

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One key is Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Bacteria can be caught by inhaling polluted air from an infected person who is coughing or sneezing. Tuberculosis is not as contagious as coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a severe acute respiratory syndrome. Therefore, it usually requires a long period of close contact to make a transmission. Nevertheless, a person with active tuberculosis needs to remain isolated and a person should wear an N95 face mask when in the same room as the person.

Tuberculosis is most often the story of the lungs, where bacteria cause havoc in the lungs. but, Mycobacterium tuberculosis It can also go to other parts of the body, such as the kidneys, spine, and brain, and cause damage. It usually takes about 3-9 weeks from the initial infection to the appearance of lung lesions or a positive tuberculosis skin test in a person. Not all infected people develop active tuberculosis and get sick immediately. Some people will instead suffer from latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). There, bacteria are hanging in the body, but you are not infectious and have no symptoms. However, if not treated properly, latent infections can eventually turn into active tuberculosis. If active tuberculosis is not treated properly, it can lead to death from illness.And death from tuberculosis would not be good

Common symptoms of active tuberculosis include severe coughing, chest pain, and hemoptysis that last for more than 3 weeks. You may also feel weak, lose appetite and weight, and have night sweats. Symptoms alone are not enough to determine if you have tuberculosis, as these symptoms may have other causes. For example, bronchitis, lung cancer, bronchiectasis, other types of pneumonia, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are some of the other causes that can cause hemoptysis. This is a medical term for vomiting blood. Similarly, various other problems such as alcohol use, anxiety, autoimmune diseases, other types of infections, lymphomas, hyperthyroidism, and wearing 14 sweaters on the bed can lead to night sweats. .. A skin or blood test is required to diagnose a tuberculosis infection.Diagnosis of active tuberculosis lung infection involves confirming the presence of sputum or lung secretions Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Treatment of latent tuberculosis infection requires a combination of isoniazid, rifapentine, and rifampin within 3 to 9 months, depending on the drug used. Treatment of active tuberculosis may take 4, 6, or 9 months, depending on the dosing regimen used. These medicines are not like pizza. Once you start them, don’t leave any leftovers. It is important to finish the regimen to start.Otherwise you may not be able to get rid of everything Mycobacterium tuberculosis To make matters worse, it can promote the development of antibiotic-resistant M. tuberculosis.

The key to controlling this outbreak is the risk of exposure, not only to people infected with tuberculosis, but also to homeless shelters, correctional facilities, nursing homes, and people living or working in parts of the world. It’s about testing all the close contact of a person. TB is more common. It quickly isolates those who may have active tuberculosis and treats all infected. The terms “public health” and “swim with resources” are rarely seen together, so it may be easier than it sounds. Instead, you’re much more likely to see words like “public health” or “which decade the fax machine is from” together.