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Source: http://www.ksfy.com/news/local/19878639.html
Nobles Co. TB Outbreak
By Drew Sandholm
Story Created: Jun 12, 2008 at 11:43 PM CDT
Story Updated: Jun 12, 2008 at 11:55 PM CDT
It's spreading.
In Nobles County, MN, there are seven active cases of tuberculosis and the number continues to grow. It appears that the disease is hitting kids hard, which is cause for concern for area parents.
Kelli Herman has a one-year-old son, so she's worried about the tuberculosis outbreak. She said, "I don't want him to have a cold. I don't want him to get a fever, let alone tuberculosis."
Things aren't looking up for Nobles County.
In her more than ten years as a nurse, Barb Navara has never seen anything like this. She said, "Usually we have one and now we've got seven. It means somebody is not well and is not getting the medical attention and we need to find that person."
TB is a deadly, infectious disease that attacks your nervous system. It's spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, but the exposure has to be long-term.
"You can not go to the grocery store and pick up tb because someone coughing in an aisle beside you, behind you," said Navara.
Everyday, Navara has been meeting with each TB patient. Navara treats them with an anti-biotic and that could go on for eight to ten months. Until they are healthy, she requires those infected to wear a mask to stop the spread through the respiratory system.
As for Kelli Herman, she's hoping for a change. She said, "I'm hoping they'll treat it, you know, get it taken care of because that's not something we want in this community."
Signs of TB include: weight loss, night sweats, extreme fatigue, and coughing up blood. Those with such symptoms should immediately seek medical attention.
Nobles Co. TB Outbreak
By Drew Sandholm
Story Created: Jun 12, 2008 at 11:43 PM CDT
Story Updated: Jun 12, 2008 at 11:55 PM CDT
It's spreading.
In Nobles County, MN, there are seven active cases of tuberculosis and the number continues to grow. It appears that the disease is hitting kids hard, which is cause for concern for area parents.
Kelli Herman has a one-year-old son, so she's worried about the tuberculosis outbreak. She said, "I don't want him to have a cold. I don't want him to get a fever, let alone tuberculosis."
Things aren't looking up for Nobles County.
In her more than ten years as a nurse, Barb Navara has never seen anything like this. She said, "Usually we have one and now we've got seven. It means somebody is not well and is not getting the medical attention and we need to find that person."
TB is a deadly, infectious disease that attacks your nervous system. It's spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, but the exposure has to be long-term.
"You can not go to the grocery store and pick up tb because someone coughing in an aisle beside you, behind you," said Navara.
Everyday, Navara has been meeting with each TB patient. Navara treats them with an anti-biotic and that could go on for eight to ten months. Until they are healthy, she requires those infected to wear a mask to stop the spread through the respiratory system.
As for Kelli Herman, she's hoping for a change. She said, "I'm hoping they'll treat it, you know, get it taken care of because that's not something we want in this community."
Signs of TB include: weight loss, night sweats, extreme fatigue, and coughing up blood. Those with such symptoms should immediately seek medical attention.