ISLE OF WIGHT Co., Va. – An employee at the Smithfield Foods processing center tested positive for tuberculosis, according to a Virginia Health Department official.
The case was of active tuberculosis disease B. The infected employee tested positive in early October.
TB is caused by a bacteria that usually affects the lungs. The sickness is curable and preventable.
TB is spread from person to person through the air by sneezing, coughing, or spitting. When these actions occur they spread the germs through the air.
People affected only need to inhale a few of the germs to become infected, according to the WHO.
Symptons of TB include cough, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
The Virginia Health Department is working with Smithfield Foods to test employees who had prolonged exposure with the infected worker to ensure the health of all employees.
There is no risk of the germs transmitting through food.
