Patrons of a 24 Hour Fitness in Vallejo, Calif., were notified Thursday in a letter from the Solano County Health Department of a potential exposure to tuberculosis.
“It’s essential to test those who may have had contact with the person with active T.B. disease,” the letter read.
Patrons of a 24 Hour Fitness in Vallejo, Calif., were notified Thursday in a letter from the Solano County Health Department of a potential exposure to tuberculosis.
“It’s essential to test those who may have had contact with the person with active T.B. disease,” the letter read.
Following up from the initial notification, county health officials reached out to club members who were in the gym at the same time as the infected person.
Dr. Michael Stacey of Solano County Public Health told nbcbayarea.com, “Everyone checks in, so that's how we know who was in the club while he was there.”
Stacey said the county routinely notifies anyone who may have been in contact with someone who has been diagnosed with the disease.
In the notification, the county assured gym members that there was no cause for panic, as tuberculosis is acquired through close contact over a prolonged period of time.
In an interview with the East Bay Times, Stacey said, “Most of the members of this gym were not that close to the individual.”
According to Stacey, a person who has contracted tuberculosis does not immediately exhibit any symptoms, and is not contagious until they do.
Said Stacey, “The person has not been in the gym since the end of May, so there is no ongoing risk now. Everybody is safe and can keep going to the gym.”
All the same, the health department is urging members to get a simple tuberculosis test. If any members have been affected, Stacey told the press, “We can treat them.”
