Second case of tuberculosis reported
Office for Health and Prevention identifies further contact persons
A second case of tuberculosis was reported to the Office for Health and Prevention in connection with the nursing student from Chemnitz who contracted open pulmonary tuberculosis.
This is a close contact of the ill student. She had previously been admitted to the clinic for further diagnostics with suspected tuberculosis. According to current information, she is also suffering from infectious pulmonary tuberculosis and requires treatment.
The Office for Health and Prevention is currently investigating other contact persons who were at risk of infection and will examine the affected persons in good time. The nursing school and another nursing home are also affected by these environmental tests.
When analysing the test results of the contact persons to date, two further suspected cases of tuberculosis were also identified, which were immediately admitted to hospital for diagnosis. Until the diagnostics have been completed, it is not yet possible to make a binding statement on the degree of possible contagiousness.
In connection with the first case of tuberculosis, 75 contact persons in Chemnitz have been tested so far. Tuberculosis infections have been diagnosed in a third of these people.
Not every contact with tuberculosis leads to an infection. Not every infection leads to illness. Further outpatient diagnostics were initiated for all persons who tested positive. People with suspected tuberculosis were admitted to hospital. The four people who are currently in hospital are students at the nursing school.
For all contact persons with positive or conspicuous findings who work in the care sector, the Office for Health and Prevention will take the necessary protective measures, such as temporary bans on entering the premises or the requirement to wear a mask while working, until the possibility of infection has been ruled out.
For further information, see also PM 46/2023