Dave
Well-Known Member
linkNewsCenter 5 reported that a surgical intern who's worked at four local hospitals has the disease and hundreds of people may have been exposed.
"We are here today because the Boston Public Health Commission has diagnosed a case of active tuberculosis in a health care worker who worked at four hospitals," said Dr. John Rich, of The Boston Public Health Commission.
The female intern, who is now on leave and undergoing treatment, worked at four Massachusetts hospitals including West Roxbury Veterans Affairs Hospital, Cape Cod Hospital, Boston Medical Center and Brockton Hospital. Those hospitals are in the process of assessing who should be tested at those facilities.
"We would estimate that approximately 1,600 people might have had contact with the infected health care worker. That is a large number and most of those individuals will not have any infection related to this at all," said Rich.
i used to work at one of those hospitals. from what i've read on this so far, it seems the intern started after i left. (even though i am in contact with patients and staff from two of the other hospitals, i know my chances of exposure/infection are slim to none.)
apparently, the exposures date back to the beginning of the year. this is an accidental exposure that could affect 1600+ people. i shudder to think what would happen if there is an intentional exposure.