About 50 families of infants at a neonatal intensive care unit at Summa Akron City Hospital were exposed to someone carrying tuberculosis late last year, Summit County health officials said Friday.
Officials are notifying those exposed about the risk and plan to track whether they contracted the airborne, infectious disease, which usually attacks the lungs and can be fatal if not treated.
But health experts also described the risk to the infants and families as low.
“We’re taking a cautious approach to this,” said Dr. John Bowers of the pediatric infectious disease division at Akron Children’s Hospital.
The neonatal unit at Akron City Hospital is operated by Akron Children’s.
Officials announced the exposure during a news conference at the main health department offices in Akron.
Summit County Public Health launched an investigation after it confirmed a case of tuberculosis in a county resident on Jan. 3.
The investigation showed the individual, whom officials wouldn’t identify, visited the neonatal intensive care unit mid-November through mid-December.
The individual had not been diagnosed before visiting.
Officials would only say that the person was visiting the unit and wasn’t a health care worker.
While the risk for infection is low, tuberculosis can be serious in young children and officials want to evaluate the infants and put them on a protective antibiotic.
The care is being provided at no cost.
Summit County Public Health plans to test people in about six weeks, said Dr. Margo Erme, medical director for the county agency. It can take anywhere from 10 to 12 weeks for the body to respond to tuberculosis and some people show no signs.
“Anyone exposed to this particular case does not pose a risk to others,” Bowers added. “So anyone who was in that neonatal intensive care unit … does not pose a risk to anyone out in the community.”
Summit County residents are diagnosed each year with the disease.
Health officials are currently tracking eight cases. There were 12 cases reported last year.
Symptoms include a long-lasting cough, fever, heavy sweating at night, loss of appetite, weakness and coughing up blood.
The disease is usually spread through germs by coughing, talking or sneezing.
Health officials have put together a question-and-answer fact sheet about the local case and tuberculosis. To read the full Q&A, go to: www.scphoh.org.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ .