Public Health – Seattle & King County is taking action after a confirmed case of active tuberculosis (TB) was associated with the Kin On Rehabilitation and Care Center located in south Seattle. The individual connected to the facility has left Kin On and is currently undergoing treatment for TB.
As part of their response, Public Health is collaborating with Kin On to assess the potential exposure to TB among individuals at the facility. This includes conducting evaluations for those who may have been in contact with the infected individual, as well as providing necessary guidance and information to both staff and residents alike.
It’s important to note that TB is not easily transmissible. This infectious disease is caused by bacteria that spread from person to person through the air—however, it is significantly more challenging to transmit than COVID-19, the common cold, or influenza. TB typically requires prolonged and repeated exposure in enclosed spaces for someone to become infected. In fact, in households with someone who has active TB, only about one in three close contacts are likely to become infected.
In a precautionary measure, Public Health has suggested that 18 individuals affiliated with Kin On should undergo a TB evaluation. This recommendation is based on the duration of their exposure to the person diagnosed with TB in indoor settings. Kin On will reach out directly to those needing evaluation, which consists of a medical risk assessment along with a TB test.
This week, Kin On is informing its staff, patients, and their families about this situation, irrespective of their known exposure levels. Should any individuals associated with the facility test positive for latent TB infection, Public Health will assist them in obtaining treatment that can eliminate the TB bacteria and prevent the onset of the active disease in the future. Treatment for latent TB infection can usually be completed in three to four months.
It is worth distinguishing between active TB and latent TB infection. Unlike the active form of the disease, individuals with latent TB infection do not exhibit illness and are not contagious. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 residents in King County live with latent TB infection. Although these individuals are not currently contagious, they face the risk of developing active TB later in life, which could also expose others.
Statistically, around five percent of those who contract latent TB infection will develop active TB within the following two years, with another five percent facing the same outcome over their lifetime.
TB primarily impacts the lungs, but it can also affect other body parts such as lymph nodes, bones, and joints. A person suffering from active TB in the lungs can transmit the disease by coughing or sneezing. In 2024 alone, King County reported 110 new cases of TB disease, averaging about two diagnoses each week.
For those looking to educate themselves further about the signs, symptoms, and ways TB spreads, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers extensive resources on their TB website.
Public Health’s TB Control Program plays a vital role in safeguarding community health by ensuring those with active TB are accurately diagnosed and treated. Additionally, the program screens individuals who have been in contact with diagnosed patients to mitigate the risk of further infections.
This crucial work not only bolsters community health but also aids in reducing costs associated with TB transmission, preventing outbreaks, and curtailing the emergence of multi-drug resistant TB, which presents significant challenges for treatment.
Globally, TB remains a serious health threat, claiming over two million lives annually. In many regions, access to effective treatment and TB control programs is limited, highlighting the importance of the robust public health measures available in the United States.
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