Kittitians fear TB outbreak
L.K. Hewlett
Editor-SKNVibes.com
~~Adz:Left~~BASSETERRE, St. Kitts: Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Patrick Martin is allaying fears concerning a rumoured ‘outbreak’ of the highly contagious disease Tuberculosis (TB).
In a released statement, the CMO confirmed one TB case and said that another report was being investigated. He also added that the Ministry of Health has received queries about a "TB Outbreak" in St. Kitts.
“Approximately 2 weeks ago, the Office of the Chief Medical Officer received a doctor certified report of a case under management at the JNF Hospital. Further, last week, a verbal report of a possible second case was also received. Pursuant to established procedure, the reports are under investigation by the Community Health Service, the competent agency in this regard,” the release read.
According to the release, the two cases are regarded as ‘events of local public health concern’, therefore the Community Health Service of the Ministry of Health is actively engaged in instituting the required responses.
It went on to say that the Ministry of Health is satisfied that the approved measures are been followed and that the General Public is advised that one or two cases of Tuberculosis do not constitute an outbreak.
“However, should there be a change that suggests a significant increase and a threat to the health of the population, information shall be forthcoming from the authorized channels of the Ministry of Health.”
The term outbreak describes the sudden rise in the incidence of a disease, especially a harmful one. An outbreak is characterized by a disease's bypassing of measures to control it.
Through his issued statement, Dr. Martin was quoted as saying “Tuberculosis in St. Kitts & Nevis is a rare event. This is the result of the massive investment of knowledge, skills and tax-dollars devoted to improving nutrition, personal hygiene, housing and environmental sanitation. Cases diagnosed locally over the past several years have all been imported and the number of cases in the Federation is usually one or two per annum.”
According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC), Tuberculosis (TB) is a disease caused by germs that are spread from person to person through the air that usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, the kidneys, or the spine. A person with TB can die if they do not get treatment.
The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever, and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain, and the coughing up of blood.
TB germs are put into the air when a person with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings. These germs can stay in the air for several hours, depending on the environment. Persons who breathe in the air containing these TB germs can become infected; this is called latent TB infection.
Members of the public who may have questions related to the disease, Tuberculosis, should contact personnel at either the Community Health Centers or the Environmental Health Department. Persons may also avail themselves of the advice of their personal physician. An anti-TB vaccine called BCG is part of the national vaccination schedule and is given in early infancy. This vaccine is provided free of charge in Community Health Centers.
