Tuberculosis Case at a Vihti Daycare Centre
A case of tuberculosis has been confirmed in an individual who frequented the Myrskylänmäki daycare centre in Vihti around the new year. The Western Uusimaa Wellbeing Services County’s Infectious Disease Prevention unit has traced the children who may have been exposed. The parents or guardians of the 26 affected children will be contacted by phone between March 4th and 6th, 2024, to discuss further actions.
The Myrskylänmäki daycare centre has informed its staff and the children’s guardians about the tuberculosis exposure. The guardians of the 26 exposed children have also been notified separately. An information meeting for the parents and guardians of the children will be held on Wednesday, March 6th, 2024. The daycare centre is attended by 130 children.
Tuberculosis is not easily transmitted. Family members living with the infected individual are usually at the highest risk of getting infected. The likelihood of getting infected from casual contact is very low. Tuberculosis spreads through airborne droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. It does not spread via surfaces or hand contact.
A person who has been exposed to tuberculosis cannot infect others unless they develop active tuberculosis in their lungs. Kindergarten-aged children are not known to transmit tuberculosis. There is no current risk of infection. Children and staff can attend daycare as usual.