West Texas TB exposure: 15 infants in greater risk


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EL PASO, Texas (AP) — West Texas health officials say they are focusing on tracking and contacting 15 of the 854 babies exposed to tuberculosis by a nurse assistant at an El Paso hospital.

El Paso Public Health Director Robert Resendes (reh-SEHN'-dehs) says his staff is focused on finding those of the 15 infants still not screened because their underlying health conditions leave them more vulnerable to infection. Resendes says officials have screened eight of the 15 already and contacted three others, but they're still looking for four others.

Of the 854 babies exposed by a health worker between September 2013 and August 2014, 303 babies have completed screening. Five tested positive for latent TB, which means they have the bacteria but are not ill.

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