Mercy Health and Aged Care is closely monitoring 70 close contacts for symptoms after a worker at its McAuley Place aged care home tested positive for tuberculosis.
The staff member is believed to have contracted the disease while overseas and remains in isolation in a stable condition at home.
CQ Health Public Health Director Dr Gulam Khandaker (pictured above) said 29 residents and 42 staff members identified as close contacts were now being monitored for symptoms.
“Each and every case of infectious tuberculosis, we take it seriously and do full blown contact tracing and case management,” Dr Khandaker told the ABC.
“This is no different in an aged care facility and that involves clinical screening and also lab testing, to find out if anyone has been exposed or developed tuberculosis and we take the treatment from there.”
No residents or staff are reportedly showing any signs of illness.
