A case of tuberculosis has been detected among workers at the Camp Nou construction site.
Up to 23 people have been in contact with the man, and an investigation has been launched to rule out further infections.
BarcelonaThe Barcelona Public Health Agency (ASPB) has detected a case of tuberculosis in a worker at the Camp Nou renovation project, according to the newspaper. The Country Sources from the Public Health Agency of Catalonia (ASPCAT) have confirmed this to ARA. For now, therefore, it is not considered an outbreak because only one case has been confirmed. Following this worker's infection, a study has been activated among those who have been in contact with him to rule out further infections. The alert reached the epidemiology service of the Barcelona Public Health Agency on October 24, according to the agency. The affected worker, diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, began treatment immediately. A contact tracing study was also initiated, a measure stipulated in the tuberculosis control protocol. In this case, 23 people have been in contact with the affected worker and could therefore have been exposed. Some of the people included in this contact tracing study work for the same company as the affected worker, a construction company involved in the renovation of the FC Barcelona stadium. For the moment, the ASPB points out, the study is ongoing and no further cases have been confirmed so far.
Contact tracing
The contact tracing study currently underway begins with a tuberculin skin test, which is administered to individuals who have had close and prolonged contact with someone who has been infected. A positive tuberculin skin test result indicates that the person has likely been exposed to the bacteria at some point in their life, but it does not mean they have active tuberculosis. When the tuberculin skin test is positive, the next step is a medical examination to check for symptoms of tuberculosis and a chest X-ray, which detects any lesions consistent with the disease. If there are no symptoms and the X-ray is normal, no further tests are performed. Last year, 349 cases of tuberculosis were diagnosed in Barcelona, 24 of whom were residents. In May of this year, [the number of cases] was detected in Catalonia. a case of tuberculosis with an extremely resistant form of the disease (XDR-TB) in a Catalan patient, who was brought under control within a few days.
Tuberculosis is a contagious disease that isbooming worldwideEach year, 10.8 million cases of tuberculosis are detected, of which 1.25 million result in death, primarily in the poorest countries, according to the Barcelona Tuberculosis Research Unit (UITB). Last year, a significant outbreak of tuberculosis was detected in Catalonia, affecting more than 25 people. While no deaths were reported, the outbreak is still under investigation, and health authorities do not rule out the possibility of further infections linked to this cluster.
