Child treated for tuberculosis attended Tasmanian daycare centre
The child, who has not been identified, last attended the Kings Meadow Goodstart Early Learning Centre in mid-July. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)
In short:
A Tasmanian child who attended a childcare centre in Tasmania's north has been treated for tuberculosis.
Goodstart Kings Meadows began notifying parents on Thursday and said it had "closely followed the directions of Public Health Tasmania and our own infectious diseases policy since being contacted" about the case.
What's next?
The childcare centre remains open and it is believed the risk of transmission is low.
A childcare centre in Tasmania's north has confirmed a child who has been treated for the infectious bacterial disease tuberculosis attended the centre.
The child, whose age and gender have not been disclosed for confidentiality reasons, last attended the Kings Meadow Goodstart Early Learning Centre in mid-July.
The centre caters for children aged between six months and six years old.
A spokesperson from Goodstart said the centre was first informed of the case last week and began contacting families of children at the centre yesterday.
Close contacts of the child, including children and staff, have been offered precautionary testing, which is being coordinated by Tasmania's Department of Health and the Launceston General Hospital.
The ABC understands the risk of transmission is low and this is an isolated case.
"The centre remains open and continues to operate as normal with the rigorous hygiene and cleaning part of our usual routine,"
the spokesperson said.
The centre continues to operate as normal with "rigorous hygiene and cleaning part of our usual routine", the operator says. (ABC News: Kelsey Reid)
Tuberculosis is relatively rare in Australia, and while it can be deadly if left untreated, it can be treated with antibiotics.
The Australian Centre for Disease Control says tuberculosis causes an estimated 1.3 million deaths worldwide annually.
Countries with a high prevalence of TB include India, Indonesia, Philippines, Pakistan and Vietnam, according to the World Health Organization.
The spokesperson from Goodstart said their response had been coordinated with state authorities in alignment with their own policies.
"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."
The spokesperson also said the child had attended another childcare centre in the area.
Tasmania's Department of Health lists suspected tuberculosis as an urgent category 1 medical condition requiring urgent assessment.
The Australian Centre for Disease Control website states that tuberculosis vaccinations are only recommended for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged under five, some healthcare workers and children born to parents from countries with high tuberculosis incidence or those travelling to countries with high instances of the disease.
The Tasmanian Health Department has been contacted for comment.
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