BINGHAMTON, NY (607NewsNow) – There are cases of latent tuberculosis at the Broome County Correctional Facility, but no active cases.
That’s according to the Broome County Health Department, which clarifies that latent cases are relatively common, not contagious, and there is no outbreak at the jail.
Health officials began testing certain staff and inmates after the hospitalization of an inmate on December 4. The incarcerated individual has tested negative for TB both during intake and a follow-up blood test. According to the Sheriff’s Office, the inmate has shown no symptoms of active TB while in custody.
Broome County Correctional Facility and Health Department staff “moved quickly on preventative measures out of an abundance of caution, working together and following all established guidelines and precautions to safeguard the health and safety of the incarcerated population, corrections officers and members of the public.”
Testing confirmed no instances of active TB disease, but multiple instances of latent tuberculosis infection.
“We have an excellent team here doing the work, ensuring access to treatment for active and latent TB,” said Dr. Lazarus Gehring, Medical Director at Broome County Public Health. “It’s important to remember folks with latent TB cannot spread the infection.”
Late last week, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office responded to rumors that the recent death of inmate William Warnock, Jr., 54, was related to a TB outbreak. Warnock’s cause of death remains undetermined pending autopsy and toxicology results.
Read more from the Broome County Sheriff’s Office here.
