The Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System has sent cautionary letters to notify 400 veterans that they may have been in contact with a tuberculosis carrier two weeks ago when they visited a VA outpatient clinic, according to a VA news release.
"The chance of developing tuberculosis from this level of exposure is very, very low," Brooke Decker, MD, VA Pittsburgh director of infection prevention, said in a statement. "While it is unlikely anyone exposed in this incident will become ill, out of an abundance of caution we are recommending veterans who receive a letter be tested."
The TB patient was initially diagnosed Nov. 17 and is currently receiving treatment and responding well to antibiotics, according to the release. The VA is offering free TB testing to any veterans concerned they may have contracted the infection.