An employee at a major online warehouse facility in the Tri-Counties has been diagnosed with tuberculosis. Ventura County Public Health officials say an employee at the massive Amazon Fulfillment Center in Oxnard tested positive for an active case of TB.
They say they’ve identified 180 people who were potentially exposed. Amazon staff members were notified Monday and Tuesday of their potential exposure.
Health officials held meetings for staff members to educate them about the disease, and potential symptoms. Free testing is being offered.
The case is what’s known as active TB because the person is actually sick from the disease. That means they can have symptoms like coughing, fever, and weight loss, and can transmit the disease through the air to those in close contact with them.
If you received a package which came through the center, there is no danger of getting TB.
The other version of TB is TB infection. It means someone has the bacteria in their body, but it’s inactive, so they aren’t spreading the disease.
TB can cause serious illness, and even death, but is treatable and curable.
County Health officials say are working to control and track the situation, and that there is no known threat to the public.
