A tuberculosis threat in Las Vegas is raising concerns after Summerlin Hospital notified hundreds of new moms and babies they may have been exposed to the disease, after one mom and her twin babies died, according to a CNN report.
Vanessa White was taken to Summerlin Hospital Medical Center's neonatal unit after falling sick and going into premature labor in May.
White, 25,, gave birth to premature twins had the bacterial infection, according to the Southern Nevada Health District After her twin girls, Emma and Abigail, were born prematurely, Mrs White was moved to a hospital in southern California 'for a higher level of care', according to an August 22 health district report.
Emma died from respiratory problems on June 1, three weeks after being born on May 11, but she was never tested for tuberculosis, according to the Clark County coroner.
According to the report, health authorities notified 140 newborns and their parents to undergo TB testing. They also found that 192 staff that may have been exposed, 155 have been tested so far and 4 people have tested positive.
New information released after the Centers for Disease Control took over the investigation revealed the exposure was bigger in scope than hospital staff originally thought.
"One hospital employee has come down with active tuberculosis, so that made us much more aware that there could have been transmission in the NICU," said Dr. Joe Iser, Chief Officer for the Southern Nevada Health District.
The heath district has offered treatment to these 24 people with latent cases.
