Press Release - Summit County Public Health
Summit County Public Health 1867 West Market Street Akron, Ohio 44313-6901 Phone: (330) 923-4891 Toll-free: 1 (877) 687-0002 Fax: (330) 923-7558 www.scphoh.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 11, 2016 Contact:
Marlene Martin, Public Information Officer 330-926-5774 [email protected]
Akron, Ohio. Summit County Public Health is currently investigating a suspected case of tuberculosis in a member of the North High School community. Due to privacy and HIPAA laws regulating the use of Protected Health Information (PHI), the individual will not be identified. Summit County Public Health (SCPH) is conducting a thorough investigation of this incident to identify all potentially exposed individuals and provide guidance and evaluation as necessary. Tuberculosis Disease (TB) is an uncommon and potentially serious illness that usually involves the lungs. In some cases, people with TB can spread the disease to others. TB is spread through the air by close prolonged contact when a person coughs, speaks, laughs, or sings. It is NOT spread by casual contact, for example, passing someone in the hallway, standing next to someone in the store, using the same bathroom, or contact with surfaces. Almost all cases of TB are curable with proper treatment and medication. Active cases of TB disease are uncommon after initial exposure. While TB is contagious, it is not very easy for the disease to spread from person to person. Therefore, there is minimal risk to the greater Summit County public. Summit County Public Health is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify contacts most at risk of exposure to TB. SCPH will be notifying potentially exposed contacts directly about the need for screening and intervention. Identified individuals will be notified via mail. Summit County Public Health will be staffing a TB information-line starting February 11, 2016 at 8:00 am. The TB information-line number is 330-926-5795. For additional information, please visit the Summit County Public Health website at www.scph.org.
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE February 11, 2016 Contact:
Marlene Martin, Public Information Officer 330-926-5774 [email protected]
Akron, Ohio. Summit County Public Health is currently investigating a suspected case of tuberculosis in a member of the North High School community. Due to privacy and HIPAA laws regulating the use of Protected Health Information (PHI), the individual will not be identified. Summit County Public Health (SCPH) is conducting a thorough investigation of this incident to identify all potentially exposed individuals and provide guidance and evaluation as necessary. Tuberculosis Disease (TB) is an uncommon and potentially serious illness that usually involves the lungs. In some cases, people with TB can spread the disease to others. TB is spread through the air by close prolonged contact when a person coughs, speaks, laughs, or sings. It is NOT spread by casual contact, for example, passing someone in the hallway, standing next to someone in the store, using the same bathroom, or contact with surfaces. Almost all cases of TB are curable with proper treatment and medication. Active cases of TB disease are uncommon after initial exposure. While TB is contagious, it is not very easy for the disease to spread from person to person. Therefore, there is minimal risk to the greater Summit County public. Summit County Public Health is following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to identify contacts most at risk of exposure to TB. SCPH will be notifying potentially exposed contacts directly about the need for screening and intervention. Identified individuals will be notified via mail. Summit County Public Health will be staffing a TB information-line starting February 11, 2016 at 8:00 am. The TB information-line number is 330-926-5795. For additional information, please visit the Summit County Public Health website at www.scph.org.
###
