PEORIA, Ill. (25 News Now) -- The Peoria County Health Department has confirmed one tuberculosis (TB) case in the county, and the patient is now in active treatment.
The bacterial disease is also known as a respiratory infection, normally spread through coughing and sneezing.
Claushayla Nunn, an epidemiologist at the health department, said when someone’s infected, they’re isolated.
“The team of disease specialists will track and do Directly Observe Therapy [where they watch the patient take medication if there is an active patient,]” said Nunn.
Nunn also said TB can have long-term impacts.
“It can affect your respiratory system long-term when it comes to not being able to fight off infections,” she said. “Or if you continue to experience those symptoms, you can develop a drug resistance to the TB drug that is given.”
Other symptoms of TB may include night sweats, fatigue, and unexplained weight loss.
The epidemiologist added that early detection can help prevent the spread because it’s still prevalent in the community.
There is a vaccine for TB called Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG), but the CDC said it is not generally used here in the U.S. and is only considered for those who meet specific criteria.
