An Investigation on Tuberculosis Outbreak in the Billiard Room in Northern Taiwan, 2015

DOI: 10.6525/TEB.201805_34(10).0001

Hsiao-Hsuan Chiang^1*, Yu-Ju Chou¹, Hao-Hsin Wu²,Tzu-Chun Chen¹, Jhy-Wen Wu¹, Kun-bin Wu¹

2018 Vol.34 NO.10

Correspondence Author： Hsiao-Hsuan Chiang^1*

Abstract：

We received the report from the Mycobacterium Laboratory of Center for Research, Diagnostics and Vaccine Development that the Spoligotyping of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains from 8 cases showed the same genotype C00036. These cases belonged to 2 counties, and from 5 different campus tuberculosis outbreaks. After investigation, we found that 3 cases attended junior high school A in Northern Taiwan. Based on the suggestions from expert board meeting, we collected the name list of all students and staffs in the period while the 3 cases were in the school. Then we compared the list to our system, and interviewed extensively those who were reported as tuberculosis cases about their activities. A billiard room in Northern Taiwan came across as the common source of infection. In December 2014, 3 staffs of that billiard room were reported as tuberculosis cases, and their tuberculosis genotype were the same. The billiard room followed public health authorities’ suggestions and set another 3 fans for ventilation. Up to June 2017, no new tuberculosis cases related to the billiard room had been reported.