Bellevue, WA - A confirmed case of active tuberculosis (TB) has been identified at an Aegis Living facility in King County, Washington, prompting a public health response and evaluations for potentially exposed individuals.
Public Health officials announced the case this week and are working with the facility to assess and mitigate any potential spread. While transmission of TB requires close, prolonged contact, and typically only about one-third of close contacts become infected even when exposed, the agency is taking precautionary measures to ensure the health and safety of residents and staff. Approximately 38 people associated with the facility have been recommended for TB evaluation, which includes a medical risk assessment and testing.
This incident underscores the ongoing presence of TB in King county, where roughly 100,000 people are estimated to have latent TB infection.Even though most latent infections remain dormant, approximately 5% of those individuals will develop active TB disease within two years, and another 5% over their lifetime.Active TB, which is contagious and primarily affects the lungs, differs from latent TB, which is not. In 2024, King County has reported 110 new cases of active TB disease, averaging about two diagnoses per week.
Individuals found to have latent TB infection will be offered treatment-a three to four-month course of medication-to prevent the disease from becoming active. The individual with active TB is currently receiving treatment, typically involving a six to nine-month course of antibiotics, facilitated by Public Health.
All staff, patients, and their families are being informed of the situation. Those seeking more data about TB signs, symptoms, and transmission can visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s TB website: https://www.cdc.gov/tb/default.htm.
