Disney: No Risk to Visitors From Employee With TB

Officials from Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom said Thursday that visitors to the theme park are not at risk for infection from an employee with active tuberculosis (TB). A spokesman noted, "The health department has said there's no risk to out visitors," and she added that there are no plans to test visitors for the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Dr. Helene Gayle noted that transmission requires "prolonged contact," and she said there is "no real cause for concern." The employee who was diagnosed with TB, a woman in her 20s who plays a costumed character at the theme park, is currently being treated; her roommates and other friends who may have come into close contact with her are also being tested for TB. A spokesman for the Orange County Health Department noted that the woman's full head mask for her character also had a second mask inside, which further reduced the risk of airborne droplets being spread.

Other CDC News for March 23, 2001

Mortality, CD4 Cell Count Decline, and Depressive Symptoms Among HIV-Seropositive Women U.S. Drug Buyers Unlikely to Seek Deep Discounts on AIDS Medicines Congress Looks to Step Up Fight Against AIDS and Other Diseases Overseas Advertisement TB Cases Increase Despite Cheap Medication: WHO	AIDS Panic in China Leads to Draconian Measures Health Tips: Physicians Should Screen for Chlamydia Disney: No Risk to Visitors From Employee With TB Tuberculosis Treatment Interruption -- Ivanovo Oblast, Russia Federation, 1999 and Evaluation of a Directly Observed Therapy Short Course Strategy for TB Disease -- Orel Oblast, Russia, Russian Federation, 1999-2000
World TB Day -- March 24, 2001