Tuberculosis scare ends for Robins employees Published June 8, 2007 By 1st Lt. Sequoiya Lawson 78th Air Base Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- The national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cleared three Robins workers to return to duty following an investigation into their exposure to a potentially infectious strain of tuberculosis, according to the Robins Public Health Office. The workers were passengers on at least one commercial flight sometime between May 12 and May 24 where Andrew Speaker, a U.S. citizen, was known to be aboard with XDR, a more resistant form of tuberculosis, or TB, which can make it more difficult to treat. The incident garnered national media attention after it was reported that Mr. Speaker ignored requests by public health officials not to travel. During the flight, the Robins employees were either on a different deck or several rows behind the infected passenger. One employee is back on duty at Robins, while the other two are currently on temporary duty overseas. Due to very limited, if any, exposure to TB bacteria on the aircraft, there is minimal risk that the three Robins employees would have a latent TB infection, said Col. Jim McClain, 78th Medical Group commander. "Fortunately, the risk of a TB outbreak at Robins or in the local community is very little to none as a result of these recent events," Colonel McClain said. "Taking care of our people is a top priority, so infectious disease of any type is a valid concern to our community." According to the CDC's Web site, passengers exposed to Mr. Speaker pose no threat to others. The site indicates that people with latent TB infection have TB bacteria in their bodies, but they are not sick because the bacteria are not active. These people do not have symptoms of TB disease, and they cannot spread the bacteria to others. They may develop TB disease in the future and are often prescribed treatment to prevent them from developing TB. The site also indicates that people who actually develop TB are sick from TB bacteria that are active, meaning bacteria are multiplying in their body. They usually have symptoms of TB. People with TB of the lungs or throat are capable of spreading bacteria to others. There are prescribed drugs that can cure TB. "Additionally, contracting TB is far more difficult than catching the flu," said Capt. Patricia Garcia, Robins public health officer. "In the medical community we never want to say never, but we are confident there is a low to minimal risk." A person must be exposed to the TB bacteria in a large concentration for an extended period. If the bacteria make it into the body, it now must survive the attack of the immune system, and even if it makes it through that, it may never manifest to an active disease phase, she said. Captain Garcia said the Robins Public Health Office has an active TB detection and control program that operates in full compliance with CDC and Air Force guidelines. "It is our job not only to educate people on possible communicable diseases and how to protect themselves but also to do surveillance for the possible introduction of any diseases into our population," said Captain Garcia. "TB is a treatable disease. XDR TB, the drug-resistant strain, is harder and more expensive to treat but it is treatable," said Colonel McClain.