There will be another round of tuberculosis testing sites available for people who may have come into contact with an infected person who spent time at a homeless shelter and an outreach organization in Manchester, New Hampshire.
Health officials say people at two different locations may have been exposed to a person with tuberculosis who was at Families in Transition Adult Shelter and the 1269 Cafe, which is also a shelter. They said anyone who visited either location between Oct. 1, 2024, and Jan. 31, 2025, could have been in contact with the individual.
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WATCH HEREThe New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services and the Manchester Health Department announced the potential exposure last month, opening testing clinics.
More than 100 people were tested, and five were diagnosed with latent tuberculosis infections, meaning they're not sick, but could develop the disease later in life.
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SIGN UP Now, the state is opening up two more clinics to test more people. They will be available at the 1269 Cafe at 456 Union St. on Tuesday, April 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Wednesday, April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The testing is being offered for free. It involves taking a blood sample which will be sent to state laboratories to determine if tuberculosis bacteria is present in the body. Anyone who thinks they might have been exposed can also call their primary care provider to request testing.
Tuberculosis is a serious illness that can cause major issues with the lungs.
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"While not everyone who comes in contact with a person who has TB gets sick, we are recommending that people who were at one of the two facilities between October and January get tested to see if they were infected," Deputy State Epidemiologist Dr. Elizabeth Talbot said. "Getting tested can provide peace of mind and help prevent sickness and the spread of TB."
On average, there are 12 people diagnosed with tuberculosis in New Hampshire each year. The disease is caused by a bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which typically infects the lungs. When a person with infectious tuberculosis coughs or sneezes, tiny droplets are released into the air. The bacteria spreads when someone breathes in these droplets.
Most people who are exposed to tuberculosis will not develop symptoms right away. The bacteria can be inactive in a person’s lungs and start multiplying later in life, causing symptoms and illness.
For more information about tuberculosis, please call the New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services at 603-271-4496 or visit the DHHS TB webpage.
