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ATLANTA (AP) — Fulton County health officials say they're investigating an uptick in tuberculosis cases that appear to be linked to local homeless shelters.
WABE-FM reported Thursday that (http://bit.ly/1n1zrnS ) that Fulton County health officials are investigating 16 cases linked to the Central Night Shelter, the Atlanta Union Mission and the Task Force for the Homeless.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria that usually attack the lungs, but can also impact the kidneys, spine and brain.
Patrice Harris of the Fulton County Department of Health and Wellness says risk for infection is linked to people spending at least six hours in enclosed spaces with an infected person.
Harris says those infected with the disease have been removed from the shelters and are being treated.
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Information from: WABE-FM, http://www.wabe.org/
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