El Paso Health Dept. releases new numbers of babies screened, contacted for tuberculosis
The following information has been compiled in order to update the media and local community as to the TB Hospital Event and investigation of possible TB exposure.
Total event patients contacted 707 or 83%
Patients scheduled for Health Department screening *64%
Completed initial screenings (as of 10/2/14) *534
Patients with completed screening (as of 10/2/14) *403
(*Patients seen as private practice providers are not yet reflected in this number.)
El Paso City/County patients contacted 83%
El Paso City/County screenings scheduled 68%
Patients outside El Paso City/County contacted 79%
Patients in Mexico contacted 79%
While we have five positive screening results for TB infection (4 of them may be false positive due to BCG vaccination) we have no positive Active TB results.
A video has been created and will be shown to families during their initial visit to explain the process of TB screening for babies and infants. (Video available atwww.EPHealth.com)
Parents who receive a notification letter are reminded that they should contact the Health Department as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. In order to expedite the appointment process we ask that the following points be clarified:
There are three numbers that can be used: 2-1-1, (915) 771-1228, or 1-877-541-7905
For 2-1-1, callers are asked to select their language (1 for English, 2 for Spanish, 3 for any other language). They should then select option 1.
The appointment center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Background
September 29, 2014
El Paso, Texas – A total of 853 babies have been identified as potentially exposed. The following is a breakdown based on their locations as reported by the hospital. We continue to use mail, certified mail, telephone calls, and personal visits to make contact with these parents and children.
Texas 764 New Mexico 59
Mexico 27 Arizona 1
Minnesota 1 Montana 1
Source: City of El Paso Department of Public Health
