Sydney childcare center leaves 92 children exposed to tuberculosis

Photo: Mayo Clinic

MOSCOW  — Australian health authorities said that 92 children were exposed to tuberculosis at the Only About Children childcare center in the inner-Sydney suburb of Surry Hills, The Sydney Morning Herald reported Wednesday.

The medics are now screening the children as well as 15 members of staff, with the preliminary tests results expected on Friday.

“The infectious person was in the childcare center during this period on a daily basis, so that is what is considered close contact — being in the same room,” NSW Health director of communicable diseases Vicky Sheppeard told the newspaper.

Sheppeard said, however, that modern treatment of tuberculosis is highly effective, adding that the case is not considered dangerous to the wider community.

Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by bacteria attacking the lungs and other parts of the body. Without proper treatment, the disease may cause wide range of symptoms, including blood-tinged sputum, fever and death.