TB rose rapidly in the U.S. during the pandemic, likely because so many people stopped receiving routine care. While the trend is starting to slow, that still means it’s becoming much more common to have employees exposed to TB.
If an employee was exposed outside of work, they may bring a letter from the health department saying as much. As long as they have no symptoms, anyone exposed to TB can continue to work unless their doctor’s note or health department letter says otherwise.
They should be aware of the symptoms of TB (especially a bad cough, chest pain, or coughing up blood), keep an eye on their own symptoms, and stay home if any develop. In most TB exposure cases, the health department will not require testing, but they may offer it to the exposed person, usually for free. If they don’t, ZHH can work with clients to coordinate testing, though it’s not generally necessary. You can’t spread TB unless you are actively sick and have symptoms, so it’s safe for this person to continue to work as long as they are symptom-free.
If you’re unsure of the details, you can ask for a doctor’s note for the employee, especially if they have any symptoms or can’t confirm whether they’ve been tested. For more guidance on your specific employee’s case, don’t hesitate to reach out to ZHH.
Sources: Mayo Clinic, CDC, CIDRAP
In Friday's Best Read, we talked about why we shouldn't be alarmist when it comes to measles, and we stand by that. Most kids recover without serious complications. But that doesn't mean we should downplay the risks, either. Measles can cause serious complications months or even years after someone recovers and can even erase some of the immune protection we've built up against other infections. There's a lot more to measles than a fever and a rash, and we can and should talk about those risks too.