France - Tuberculosis cases 2024

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A case of tuberculosis detected at Rouen University: around 70 contact cases

Written by Amandine Pointel
Published on11/19/2024 at 5:50 p.m.

INFO F3. A case of contagious tuberculosis has been detected within the faculty of Rouen (Seine-Maritime). An investigation has identified potentially exposed people, with screening underway to prevent any risk of transmission. There are approximately 70 contact cases.

A case of tuberculosis has been detected at the Pasteur campus of the University of Rouen (Seine-Maritime). Information confirmed to us by the Regional Health Agency (ARS) Normandy, Tuesday, November 19, 2024. "A case of contagious tuberculosis has been reported in a person who attended the Rouen faculty, Pasteur site" , the ARS tells us.

According to our information, it would be a student. Some students were summoned for a "mandatory meeting" on Monday, November 18, 2024, led by nurses from the Rouen University Hospital to warn the students.

Around 70 contact cases to be screened

An investigation conducted by the Centre for the Fight against Tuberculosis (CLAT) of Seine-Maritime has enabled the identification of around sixty contacts among students and around ten among teachers. Information was provided by the CLAT teams in order to propose the implementation of screening.

"This screening is based on a chest X-ray to be carried out immediately to look for tuberculosis disease, and on a blood test to be carried out at the beginning of January 2025 to identify any latent forms ," specifies the ARS.

"People in contact with the case do not have to implement specific barrier measures outside of the measures recommended in the event of respiratory symptoms ," continues the ARS. The CLAT 76 is in charge of the epidemiological investigation and the monitoring of contact persons.
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https://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/normandie/seine-maritime/rouen/un-cas-de-tuberculose-detecte-a-la-fac-de-rouen-environ-70-cas-contacts-3062896.html

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Gironde: two cases of tuberculosis detected in a nursery school in Libourne

By Linda Douifi
Published on 11/20/2024 at 5:15 p.m.
Updated on 11/20/2024 at 6:00 p.m.

An information meeting will be held on Thursday, November 21 with parents of students affected by screening and professionals from the establishment.

On Monday, November 18, two cases of pulmonary tuberculosis were detected in a nursery school in Libourne, according to the Regional Health Agency. The latter was informed by the Tuberculosis Control Center (Clat). "After analyzing this situation, it was agreed between Clat and the ARS to extend screening to the entire establishment. Screening will include students, teachers and professionals identified as contact cases in the school," the ARS and the Department specified in a joint press release.

The two sick children, from the same family, were taken care of and no longer present a risk to the community concerned. The Clat has also identified the people who were in close contact with them and screening is being organized in order to detect possible secondary cases, "to quickly offer them appropriate treatment and thus prevent the spread of the disease."

Finally, to inform the parents of the students concerned by the screening as well as the professionals of the establishment, an information meeting is scheduled by the Clat on Thursday, November 21, at 4:30 p.m., at the Jean-Jaurès school. "The city agents have already received their summons as a precaution to go see the occupational physician and the ARS will be there to explain to everyone how the tests will be carried out and how the prevention follow-up will be ensured," informs Thierry Marty, the deputy delegate for education.

A contagious disease

Tuberculosis is a contagious bacterial infectious disease caused by the Koch bacillus. In the event of close contact with a sick person, the contact person can become infected. Transmission occurs through the air: microdroplets when coughing or sneezing. In the event of contamination, patients can develop either a latent form, i.e. dormant and non-contagious, or active tuberculosis. The people most at risk are very young children and vulnerable people.

https://www.sudouest.fr/gironde/libourne/gironde-deux-cas-de-tuberculose-detectes-dans-une-ecole-maternelle-de-libourne-22227015.php

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Tuberculosis: should we be concerned about the cases reported in several departments in recent days?

Sophie Cazaux
THE 11/21/2024 at 4:35 p.m.

Cases of tuberculosis have been detected in recent days in Gironde and Seine-Maritime. This infectious disease is still circulating in France with thousands of cases recorded every year and is very treatable today.

Several cases of tuberculosis have been reported in recent days in France, in different departments. This Wednesday, November 20, the Regional Health Agency of Nouvelle-Aquitaine reported two cases , children from the same family, in a nursery school in Libourne . "Screening is being organized in order to detect possible secondary cases in order to quickly offer them appropriate treatment and thus prevent the spread of the disease," the department announced in a press release.

In Seine-Maritime, a case of contagious tuberculosis was detected in a person who attended a campus of the University of Rouen , BFM Normandie learned from the Normandy Regional Health Agency (ARS) also on Wednesday.

An investigation conducted by the department's Tuberculosis Control Center identified "around sixty contacts among students and around ten among teachers," the ARS said. They were offered screening in the form of a chest X-ray and a blood test.

A contagious disease in 10% of cases

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that, in 90% of cases, does not cause symptoms and is not contagious, according to the Health Insurance . In the remaining 10%, it is "active" tuberculosis, as in Libourne and Rouen. It then manifests itself by symptoms such as "a prolonged cough, fatigue, fever, night sweats, weight loss and chest pain", according to the Pasteur Institute website .

The mycobacterium that causes tuberculosis is transmitted through the air (speaking, sneezing, coughing, etc.) via "prolonged close contact", "when you live in the same home as the contagious person or travel together in a vehicle", explains the Ministry of Health on its website .

Its transmission also depends on "the degree of contagiousness of the sick person as well as the duration of contact (at least several hours of contact are usually necessary)".

Several thousand cases per year in France

For Renaud Piarroux, head of the parasitology-mycology department at the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris, the cases reported in Libourne and Rouen should not cause any particular concern. "There are several thousand of them per year" in France, this infectious disease specialist emphasizes to BFMTV.com.

Indeed, according to Public Health France , 4,728 cases of tuberculosis were recorded there in 2023. This disease, which must be declared, is more common in Guyana, Île-de-France and Mayotte and mainly affects "the most vulnerable populations", including homeless or incarcerated people. This respiratory disease is transmitted in all weathers, although it circulates "a little more pronounced in winter", according to Renaud Piarroux.

Furthermore, tuberculosis "is very treatable", according to the Ministry of Health. There is a vaccine against tuberculosis: BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guérin), which is however not very effective against cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in adolescents and adults, explains the Pasteur Institute.

Sophie Cazaux

https://www.bfmtv.com/sante/tuberculose-faut-il-s-inquieter-des-cas-recenses-dans-plusieurs-departements-ces-derniers-jours_AV-202411210742.html