Two Cases of Drug-Resistant TB Confirmed in Northeast Georgia

Two cases of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis have been confirmed in Northeast Georgia.

According to a statement from the Georgia Department of Public Health’s TB Program, an investigation is continuing into the drug resistant TB in the District 2 Public Health region, which includes Stephens, Franklin and Hart Counties.

The two cases were diagnosed and confirmed in Hart County, according to the report.

Officials with the Georgia Department of Public Health tell WNEG News the two individuals with confirmed drug-resistant tuberculosis are being treated, and a third possible case is currently being evaluated.

District 2 Public Health spokesperson Dave Palmer says the Department of Public Health has notified hospital emergency departments and health care providers that may have seen patients from Hart, Franklin or Stephens counties, or nearby areas.

“What the letter asked for is for healthcare providers to be aware that if people come in with symptoms of TB to not rule out testing them for tuberculosis,” Palmer said. “That is a skin test where they put a small amount of medicine under the skin of the forearm, then read it three days later to see if they’ve had a reaction”

Additionally, people who have been in contact with the two confirmed TB patients are also being screened for the disease.

Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria that are spread from person to person through the air.

Palmer says drug-resistant TB occurs when the bacteria becomes resistant to the drugs used to treat the disease.

“The MDR TB doesn’t respond to the first-line medicines that we normally treat regular TB with,” he explained. “But there are different medicines that we use to treat MDR TB and as long as the patient takes the medicine and follow the regimen, it will kill the bacteria and they should be OK.”

Signs and symptoms of the multi-drug resistant strain of tuberculosis can be similar to the influenza virus that is going around.

They include:

Prolonged cough
Coughing up blood or blood-stained mucus
Fever
Night sweats
Weight loss
And a general feeling of being tired and unwell.

If you or a loved one has experienced these symptoms, you should contact your medical provider or your local health department immediately.