TB cases were contracted overseas, officials believe
Cayman Islands Hospital, George Town
(CNS): The medical officer of health has said that he does not believe the recent cases of tuberculosis (TB) confirmed at the Cayman Islands Hospital in George Town were contracted in Cayman. Although investigations into how the patients were infected are ongoing, the travel history of the patients indicates that they likely acquired the illness overseas. Dr Samuel William-Rodriguez said tracking where the patients could have contracted TB presents challenges because the infection can incubate for considerable periods before inflicting a patient.
Since the beginning of the year, the Cayman Islands Hospital has documented seven cases of TB, four of them were confirmed just last week.
With no evidence at present to suggest that TB has been acquired by anyone locally, doctors at the George Town hospital said they were working very hard to prevent local transmission.
Category: Health, Medical Health
Many TB strains these days are developing drug resistance so definitely we need our community to be on guard and practice clean techniques – don’t share drinks, cigarettes and towels, cover coughs, wash your hands constantly.
The signs of TB include to watch for in your loved ones and co-workers:
•Coughing that lasts three or more weeks
•Coughing up blood
•Chest pain, or pain with breathing or coughing
•Unintentional weight loss
•Fatigue
•Fever
•Night sweats
•Chills
•Loss of appetite
Unfortunately there is not a very effective vaccine for TB – Neither the USA or UK have it included in routine immunizations except in cases of known ongoing exposures. Read more at: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/topic/vaccines/ and http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/pages/bcg-tuberculosis-tb-vaccine.aspx.
“Anonymous” above is correct that Interferon Gama Release Assays — IGRAs are much better option for screening for TB infection (as if anyone has rec’d the BCG vaccine, the will show positive for skin tests). Then a chest x-ray can be ordered for suspect cases from the IGRA. The repeated chest x-rays being done now are giving those persons radiation which can contribute to cancers.
Nothing bad can ever happen in Caywonderland! No disease, no thieving, no corruption. Everything is perfect. Yeah…
i’ve always heard that pure good honey is very effective to cure TB, worth the try, but get the real pure raw organic honey. Take a couple spoonfuls three times a day or so. If you can get bee pollen too would be good, strengthens immune system to fight infections.
The sort of mumbo jumbo that kills people. I bet this numpty eschews vaccinations too.
I only enter into relations with badgers after a permit renewal exam.
Look folks, just all go and get your vaccines, so you cannot blame those that haven’t. OK?
Interferon Gama Release Assays — IGRAs are much better options for screening for TB infection. This is a modern blood test which is recommended by CDC.
What exactly do the do?
TB or not TB, that is the question.
Quote, “because the infection can incubate for considerable periods before inflicting a patient.” Or in other words the patient is infected but the disease remains latent, which is why skin tests are a better method of screening than chest x-rays.
Latent TB – test positive, no symptoms, not contagious. Can turn into TB Disease. Skin test and blood tests, test for pressence of either, not distinguishable. Chest X-ray and Sputum samples are the diagnostic tools. Vaccination is key.
Where did you copy and paste that from?
My sister was on a cruise in the spring she went to Jamaica Mexico and Cayman
about a month ago she wasn’t feeling well so she went for tests
after tests and xrays and digging in her lungs they say she has TB
I wonder which third world country she got it from because its not in the US
You are wrong! According to the CDC, a total of 9421 cases were reported in the US in 2014. Read it here: http://www.cdc.gov/tb/statistics/.
your cdc #,s are what % most likely illegal immigrants
that said my sister was in cayman mexico and Jamaica and now has it
you figure it out with your CDC bunk
Hateful person 1.32.
The land of science denying, anti-vaccination wackos (aka the USA) is seeing the revival of all sorts of diseases that science and vaccines had previously eradicated.
You are going backwards fast.
A chunk of them believe in creationism. What do you expect?
What a hateful joke you are.
When it comes to jokes, believing the solar system, earth, living creatures and humans all appeared by magic is a pretty good one. Especially when you through in the ark too.
You don’t have to like us, but we were the ones who eradicated polio, yellow fever, small pox etc.
“It’s not in the U.S.”?. In 2014 there were 9421 reported cases in the United States, so she may well have contracted it at home. As far as third world countries are concerned, America must rank right up there when it comes to gun-related violence.
I love my gun, and I am pretty sure it has nothing to do with your TB. TB is something you get by being very close to someone who has it. These cases may not have started in Cayman, but with peope living 5 to a room it may spread. Don’t you folks get vaccinated like the rest of the world?
Who are you going to blame when you get polio or the other diseases for which there have been vaccines for decades?!?