Migrant farm workers found free of active TB

By Rose Hooper

That's according to Josie Nunley, Jackson County Health Department nurse and director of the farm worker health program, and Dr. Mark Heffington of Mountain Area Family Medicine, who volunteers his time to the program.

Based on information obtained from health department officials, The Herald reported last week that seven of 23 individuals screened for tuberculosis as part of a grant-funded project tested positive for for the disease. Health department officials went on to say that a positive result does not indicate an active disease and that further evaluation would be required before a final determination could be made.

Subsequent screenings included chest X-rays, Nunley said. Based on these tests, each of the seven individuals was found to be negative for active TB, she said.

"A positive (preliminary) test indicates that the person was, at some time in his life, infected with tuberculosis or that he received a vaccination to prevent tuberculosis recently," said Heffington.

"Even if the person has been treated successfully for TB, or has gotten over the contagious part of the disease, the skin test will continue to be positive for life," Heffington said. "Unless you have active TB, you can't give anyone TB, and none of the migrant farm workers tested have active TB."

Through a state-funded grant, the county health department is conducting screenings for TB in high-risk populations. Migrant farm workers are the first, but not only, group scheduled to be tested.

Nunley said another 100 individuals in at-risk populations ­ such as those in nursing homes, health care workers, those who have been incarcerated and recent immigrants ­ will also be evaluated.

Back to Archive: 03/14/02.