Oxnard Amazon worker diagnosed with tuberculosis; official says no connection to earlier case
A worker at the Amazon fulfillment center in Oxnard tested positive for tuberculosis, triggering plans to test other employees, public health officials said Friday.
There is no known danger to the public, county officials said. The case is the second reported at the Amazon site in less than two months, but there is no connection between the two, said Dr. Uldine Castel, the county's TB controller.
In the new case, the person came to a hospital sick in late May and then tested positive, kicking off efforts to find contacts. The investigation revealed at least 249 workers who could have been exposed, Castel said. Public health hosted educational sessions for staff, covering testing, symptoms and treatment plans.
Read more: 180 Amazon employees in Oxnard potentially exposed to tuberculosis
Castel emphasized the difference between tuberculosis infection and active disease. People with the disease are sick from germs that are active in their bodies. They can spread the infection.
People who are infected but don't have the disease are not ill and cannot spread the TB germ. About 1 of 10 people with the infection become sick with disease at some time in their life. It is a curable condition that can be treated with oral medications.
People with questions can call a public health message line at 805-385-9444.
The earlier case at the Amazon site was announced in April. Castel said no additional active cases were discovered in the workplace investigation but there were three active cases found in the household. They are being treated.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Oxnard Amazon worker diagnosed with TB; 240 possibly exposed
