ESCANABA - Considered highly-contagious, and deadly if left untreated, two confirmed cases of tuberculosis have been reported in Menominee County, according to Jennie Miller, communicable disease and immunization coordinator for Public Health Delta-Menominee Counties.
"We have two confirmed cases actually in the Marinette area," said Miller. She said once diagnosis confirmed the agency was dealing with TB, steps were taken to inform anyone with whom the two people came into contact.
"Once we contacted everyone who may have come into direct contact, we advised them to come in and be tested for TB, so appropriate steps could be taken to prevent its spread into the community. There haven't been any cases reported or confirmed in Delta County," said Miller.
While often considered to affect primarily the respiratory system (lungs), TB can also impact other areas of the body, including the spine and lymphatic system.
Common symptoms of TB include: a cough with thick, cloudy or bloody sputum lasting for more than two weeks; fever, chills and night sweats; fatigue and weakness; loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss; shortness of breath and chest pain.
According to website Web MD, many people exposed to TB never develop any symptoms of the disease. It most often appears in people with weakened immune systems caused by aging or people who are HIV positive.
Tuberculosis was once considered to have been eradicated following the advancement of antibiotics during the 1950s that effectively treated the disease.
However, a new, potent form of the bacteria has arisen and is proving to be resistant to common drug therapy used to treat TB.
Miller said TB is primarily an airborne-transmitted disease. For residents to become infected, they need to be in close con"The TB infection is treated with a combination of medications over an extended period of time," said Miller. "In some cases, it can take up to one year for the infection to be completely cleared up."
She said anyone who becomes exposed to the TB bacteria should also undergo a four-drug regimen of treatment to prevent the onset of the disease.
"Once the bacterial infection which causes TB has been eliminated from the body, it cannot reactivate in the body at a later date," said Miller.tact with an infected individual.