WESTBOROUGH – In response to growing concerns about tuberculosis cases, the Board of Health issued a statement on Monday, Feb. 19.
“In response to some concerns that have been raised, the Westborough Health Department would like to make clear that Westborough is not facing a public health crisis regarding tuberculosis,” according to Public Health Director Jennifer Sullivan.
She said there are currently four residents being treated for TB.
“In 2023, the total number of persons with active TB, latent TB, suspected TB and close contacts of persons with active TB reported to Westborough from the Massachusetts DPH (Department of Public Health) through the MAVEN system was 80. This compares to 86 in 2022.”
In the statement, Sullivan explained how TB could be contracted and spread: “Tuberculosis is caused by bacteria and can be spread when an untreated person with an active infection coughs or sneezes.
“Transmission to someone else usually requires a person to be in close contact for a prolonged period of time, and that person at some point inhales the bacteria.”
Sullivan added that even is a person contracts TB, it could enter the lungs but not cause an infection and there are no symptoms. This is known as latent TB, and cannot be transmitted to someone else, unless the person with latent TB develops into an active case.
Latent TB can be detected with testing, and can be treated with medication.
For information, contact the Board of Health office at 508-366-3045, or visit https://www.westboroughma.gov/393/Public-Health-Department
