21 Jan 2018

No risk of TB spread in Kāwhia

8:45 pm on 21 January 2018

Waikato medical officials says there's no risk of tuberculosis spreading in Kāwhia.

Last year there were two confirmed cases and one probable in the area, but the medical officer of health, Felicity Dumble said they were all treated, and were not infectious.

She said staff were educating residents about the disease.

"Our staff have been working closely with the community to try and give them good information about what's actually been happening including going there in person to have a community meeting."

Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The Immunisation Advisory Centre said more than two-thirds of all TB cases in New Zealand are in people born overseas.

The bacteria are passed by inhaling droplets from an infected person through coughing, sneezing or spitting and active TB is treated with a combination of long term antibiotics.

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