Veteran outpatient tests positive for tuberculosis; VA notifying others of possible exposure

PITTSBURGH — The VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System is notifying others about a possible exposure to tuberculosis after physicians diagnosed a veteran outpatient with the disease on Monday.

VA officials said the patient is responding well to treatment and no additional cases have been identified.

The patient most recently visited the VA’s Beaver County outpatient clinic and University Drive location. The VA is identifying and notifying patients, employees and others who may have come in contact with the affected person, using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. The process is expected to take several more days.

As a routine precaution, each of those people will be notified expeditiously and offered free testing, the VA said.

“The care of veterans remains our primary focus. They have earned it,” Medical Center Director Karin McGraw said. “That is why we take the situation so seriously. While it is unlikely anyone potentially exposed will become ill, out of an abundance of caution, we urge notified patients and employees to be tested.”

According to the CDC, tuberculosis disease and latent tuberculosis infection, which means the individual is carrying a germ called mycobacterium tuberculosis but is not contagious, are eliminated by antibiotic treatment, and there are usually no long-term effects when treated.

Tuberculosis disease is transmitted through the air, and is a serious but treatable bacterial infection that most often affects the lungs.

VA officials said they’re working closely with the Beaver County Department of Health on the case.

Cox Media Group