The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is working in close collaboration with Navy officials to notify individuals who were possibly exposed to tuberculosis (TB) on Naval Base Point Loma.
The periods of exposure are from Oct. 1, 2016 to Jan. 31 in the Naval Base Point Loma Old Town Complex in building OT3 and from Feb. 1 to April 7 in the Naval Base Point Loma Topside building No. 40.
“Symptoms of active TB include persistent cough, fever, night sweats, and unexplained weight loss,” says Wilma Wooten, M.D., M.P.H., county public health officer. “Most people who are exposed to TB do not develop the disease.
“Those confirmed to be exposed and infected can be treated and cured with medication to minimize chances of developing active TB disease; that’s why it’s important to identify those who have been exposed.”
The Navy will provide no-cost testing to all identified individuals at Naval Base Point Loma Old Town Complex beginning May 9 and on May 15 and 16 in the auditorium on Topside A-33.
People who would like more information are asked to call County TB Control Program at 619-692-8621.
TB in not uncommon in the San Diego region. Locally, cases have declined overall since 2001 but have fluctuated the past six years. There were 258 TB cases reported in San Diego in 2016 and 234 cases in 2015. To date, 68 cases have been reported in 2017.