Staff and families at two childcare centres in the Launceston area have been contacted by the Department of Health after a child was diagnosed with tuberculosis.
The department said it had worked closely with the centres and clinical specialists to identify people who may have been exposed and to plan advice, testing and follow-up.
“The risk of TB infection in these circumstances is low,” a department spokesperson said.
Staff and children who may have been exposed have been offered free testing as a precautionary measure because TB can be serious in young children.
Testing is being coordinated through the childcare centres and provided by clinical specialists in TB screening.
Families and staff will receive their results and any recommended actions at confidential follow-up appointments in the coming weeks.
The child last attended Goodstart Early Learning Centre in Kings Meadows in mid-July.
The centre caters for children aged from six weeks to six years and has 106 places.
A Goodstart spokesperson said the centre was first informed of the case last week and began contacting families on Thursday.
“The centre remains open and continues to operate as normal with the rigorous hygiene and cleaning part of our usual routine,” the spokesperson said.
Launceston General Hospital. Image / Pulse
The child’s age and gender have not been disclosed for confidentiality reasons.
The spokesperson said the child had also attended another childcare centre in the area.
“We’ve closely followed the directions of Public Health Tasmania and our own infectious diseases policy since being contacted last week,” they said.
“Families with concerns are being asked to directly contact their GP or the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.”
TB is caused by a bacterium and usually spreads only after prolonged close contact with an infected person.
It does not spread through sharing food, touching surfaces or shaking hands.
Between 10 and 20 cases of TB are diagnosed in Tasmania each year.
The department said TB can be cured with antibiotics and that the risk to the broader public is very low.
