Patrons of the Mission Valley YMCA in San Diego might have to quite hurriedly check their health after officials reported a confirmed case of active tuberculosis (TB). The San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency is urging anyone who visited the facility at 5505 Friars Road between March 5 and October 30, specifically from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., to potentially be on high alert, according to County News Center.
People who used the Mission Valley YMCA between March 5 and Oct. 30, 2023 may have been exposed to tuberculosis. The County's Public Health Services is working with the Mission Valley YMCA to notify members and staff who were potentially exposed.https://t.co/iiuIx2H51D
— SanDiegoCounty (@SanDiegoCounty) December 29, 2023
The County's Tuberculosis Control Program is working alongside the YMCA to alert members and staff who might have been exposed to the airborne disease. Direct communications have been sent to individuals estimated to have had the longest duration of exposure. "Members who are believed to have had the longest cumulative duration of exposure during those time periods have been notified individually," the County announced.
Tuberculosis is highly contagious and can be easily spread through the air when a person with the active disease coughs or sneezes. The risk of contracting TB increases with prolonged indoor exposure to the infected individual. While the YMCA and the County have focused on reaching out to those with the most extensive exposure, a broader notification is out to ensure all potentially affected are well-informed and can take appropriate health measures.
Those who frequented the Mission Valley YMCA during the stated periods are advised to proactively contact their healthcare provider or the County TB Control Program. The YMCA has been instrumental in identifying and notifying the members most at risk to be proactively screened and, in some cases, to immediately begin treatment. "The YMCA provided critical information confirming members most likely to have had TB exposures as well as providing a broader notification to all members and staff who were potentially exposed," the County reported.
It's essential for anyone testing positive for TB, even without symptoms, to undergo further evaluation, including a chest x-ray, to rule out an active infection. Treatment for latent or inactive TB can prevent the disease from progressing and causing illness. The County underscores the importance for individuals with symptoms of active TB, especially those who are immune-compromised, to seek medical advice.
According to the County News Center, there were 208 reported cases of active TB in San Diego County in 2022. An estimated 175,000 residents are believed to carry latent TB, which, without treatment, could advance to the active disease.
For more information or concerns related to TB exposure at the Mission Valley YMCA, individuals can contact the County TB Control Program at 619-692-5565.
