Health Department Tackles Tuberculosis Case in Issaquah
Public Health – Seattle & King County is currently addressing a confirmed case of active tuberculosis (TB) at the Aegis Living retirement community in Issaquah.
The health department is working closely with the facility to evaluate how many individuals might have been exposed to TB and is assisting with screening processes for those at risk.
This effort includes providing information and guidance to both staff and residents.
Public Health notes that TB is caused by airborne bacteria and is generally less transmissible compared to other illnesses like COVID-19, colds, or flu. For infection to occur, it usually requires extended exposure in confined spaces. In fact, among those who live together, only about a third of close contacts might contract the infection from an active case, according to the department.
As a precaution, the department has advised that 38 individuals connected to Aegis Living get evaluated for TB. This will involve a medical assessment and a TB test, and the facility will be reaching out to those who need to be evaluated. This week, all staff, residents, and their families are being informed of the situation, regardless of their exposure level.
If any individuals test positive for latent TB infection, Public Health plans to offer treatment that can eliminate the bacteria and prevent active TB disease from developing. Latent TB isn’t contagious and can be treated in about three to four months. The person diagnosed with active TB is already undergoing treatment, which typically spans six to nine months of antibiotic therapy.
Active TB disease is different from latent TB infection; the former can spread to others, while the latter cannot. In King County, around 100,000 residents have latent TB infection, and about 5% may develop active TB within two years, with an additional 5% at risk over their lifetime.
While TB primarily affects the lungs, it can also impact other areas of the body. In 2024, King County recorded 110 new TB cases, averaging about two new diagnoses each week.
For more details about TB signs, symptoms, and transmission, you can check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s TB website.
