Cincy homeless shelter hit with TB

May 06, 2007

Health officials in Cincinnati are tracking down hundreds of homeless people who may have been exposed to tuberculosis at a downtown shelter.

Seven people have been confirmed as having the disease while as many as 600 others may have been exposed, The Cincinnati Post said Saturday.

The tuberculosis outbreak was first detected in February at the Drop Inn Center, the Queen City's largest homeless shelter. So far, about 200 guests have been tested.

Officials said at a news conference Friday that there was no immediate danger to the general population, but TB could spread in places like shelters and jails and among people with weakened immune systems.

Copyright 2007 by United Press International

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