Around 200 adults possibly exposed to active case of tuberculosis at Lower Valley halfway house

Update: Around 200 adults were possibly exposed to an active case of tuberculosis (TB) at Dismas Charities, a halfway house on Alameda.

The City of El Paso Department of Public Health was notified of the possible exposure on June 24 by a local hospital.

Health department officials say 170 adults have been tested for TB. Results are expected by next week.

Bruce Parsons, assistant health director, said one of the things the public needs to realize is that TB is with us.

Parsons added that the normal course of the Health Department’s business includes going to places to review reports of possible TB exposure.

“The Dismas case) it’s unusual in that it’s coming on the heels of another large case at an elementary school.

The Health Department also is reminding the public that TB is not uncommon in the El Paso area.

Last year, 44 cases of TB were identified in the greater El Paso region with 55 in 2013 and 38 in 2012.

Original Story: Residents of Dismas Charities on Alameda in Lower Valley tell ABC-7 they are being tested for tuberculosis (TB) after possibly being exposed to it.

An intern at Dismas Charities, who is also stationed at Fort Bliss, just came in to get tested for TB and says he is concerned for his family.

A Dismas Charities resident told ABC-7 that all residents of Dismas Charities are tested for TB before they are admitted in program.

The City of El Paso’s health department is not releasing any information the possible exposure.

ABC-7 will update this story as more details become available.

Dismas Charities is a natinal company that aims to reduce victimizatin in communities by providing evidence based re-entry programs for offenders.