By FRAULEINE VILLANUEVA-DIZON
\nfrauleine_villanueva@saipantribune.com
\nREPORTER<\/p>\n
Three new active cases of tuberculosis have been diagnosed on Saipan this month.<\/p>\n
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria and usually affects the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body.<\/p>\n
According to Commonwealth Healthcare Corporation-Division of Public Health Services Medical Director Dr. Ngoc-Phuong Luu the cases are not related to each other. <\/p>\n
\u201cNone of the three cases are linked to each other. This means that one case did not cause the other cases,\u201d Luu said in a press release addressing the public. <\/p>\n
However, an active TB case can be contagious. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere are two types of TB, active and latent (\u201csleeping\u201d TB). People are only able to give TB to others when they have active TB and are displaying symptoms of active TB such as prolonged coughing,\u201d Luu said.<\/p>\n
Both active and \u201csleeping\u201d TB are treatable, according to the DPH. Treatment varies from six to nine months depending on the type of TB. Medications and appointments are free through the Chest Clinic.<\/p>\n
Luu said DPHS and the TB Program\/Chest Clinic personnel are actively screening all potentially exposed persons who qualify as \u201cclose contacts\u201d of the three active cases. <\/p>\n
Just last week, DPH conducted a testing on students and staff of Marianas High School for TB due to possible exposure as a result of a recent active case.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor those people who test positive, we are offering free assessment and treatment at the Chest Clinic. If you have not been contacted, it means you are not one of the close contacts,\u201d Luu said.<\/p>\n
The bacteria of TB can spread through the air through coughing, sneezing, speaking, singing, shouting, or even laughing. <\/p>\n
One has a higher risk of breathing in the bacteria when one is in close contact to a person with active TB for prolonged periods of time and exposure occurs in a small enclosed space with poor ventilation. <\/p>\n
\u201cTransmission of TB is mainly through respiratory droplets (phlegm\/sputum). People who are at highest risk of getting TB from a person with active TB are people who have a large amount of contact time with that person. The spouse, children, and relatives who live in the same house are at highest risk,\u201d Luu said.<\/p>\n
\u201cOther people with a higher chance of getting TB compared to a complete stranger are that person\u2019s frequent personal contacts. For example: their co-workers whom they see and talk to regularly,\u201d the doctor added.<\/p>\n
Luu added that the chance of getting TB is \u201cessentially non-existent\u201d if a person just happened to have casual contact such as being in the same store, same restaurant, or same church as the person. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou cannot \u2018catch\u2019 TB from touching the same things a person with active TB has touched,\u201d Luu said.<\/p>\n
Luu said that the Pacific Islands have a much higher percentage of TB cases than in the U.S. mainland or Europe. <\/p>\n
\u201cLots of people might be infected with \u201csleeping\u201d TB and not know it. You can go years, even decades, without \u2018feeling\u2019 anything or getting sick. As we screen more people, we may detect more TB cases by sheer chance but this does not necessarily mean that we have more TB in Saipan\/CNMI,\u201d Luu said.<\/p>\n
The Chest Clinic may be contacted at 234-8950, extension 3515 or 3514.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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