Release Date: April 13, 2009
Contact: Christine Patmon, Metro Health Public Relations Manager, 207-8638
or Deputy Ino Badillo, Bexar County Jail Public Information Officer, 335-6030
Joint Investigation of Possible TB Exposure Underway
The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District (Metro Health), University Health System (UHS), and the Bexar County Jail (BCJ) are jointly investigating possible exposures to tuberculosis (TB) at the jail. Two inmates were diagnosed with active TB and have already begun anti-tuberculosis therapy.
The investigation currently underway is focused on identifying all individuals who had significant contact with the affected persons. Those individuals either have been or will be screened for TB, which is a treatable airborne disease that normally requires prolonged close contact for transmission. UHS and the BCJ are taking a proactive role in the facilitation of this investigation.
Metro Health is advising anyone who was incarcerated in the Bexar County Jail among the male population from December 11, 2008 to January 30, 2009, and was later released, to visit Metro Health’s City Chest Clinic at 814 McCullough or the nearest health care services in their area to get tested.
For more information, please contact the City Chest Clinic at 210-207-8823.
