Recent TB Outbreak in Los Angeles has Health Officials Concerned

Garden Grove, CA, March 13, 2013

Los Angeles County Health Department specialists are currently in the process of dealing with a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak that has occurred primarily among the city’s homeless population. Health officials have been busy confirming the number and types of TB cases across the county. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have also gotten involved with the outbreak.

The Los Angeles Times recently published information that approximately 4,650 people have been identified by health workers as having likely been exposed to the contagious disease. Tuberculosis is caused by a bacterium known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The organism typically attacks the lungs, but it can cause harm to many parts of the body. If left untreated or not treated properly, the disease can be fatal.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is spread through the air from person to person. It can become airborne when someone with the disease of the lungs or throat coughs, sneezes, or speaks. Anyone in close proximity may then breathe in the bacteria and become infected themselves.

One company that provides testing for environmental samples of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is LA Testing and their affiliate EMSL Analytical, Inc.  Michael Chapman, Laboratory Manager of LA Testing’s Garden Grove facility, recently stated, “Our laboratory network utilizes real-time PCR, which is a cutting edge molecular technology, to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis. This allows us to quickly and accurately identify the organism from environmental samples to help prevent outbreaks and assist others in developing appropriate infection control procedures. This has become all the more urgent as multi drug resistant and extensively drug resistant cases of TB are becoming more common worldwide”

LA Testing has sponsored an educational video about TB and Mycobacterium tuberculosis that can be seen at:

http://youtu.be/u7o93nmgp1E.

To learn more about testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis or other microbial pathogens and contaminants, please visit www.LATesting.com, email info@LATesting.com or call (800) 755-1794.

About LA Testing and EMSL Analytical, Inc.
LA Testing and EMSL Analytical are providers of environmental testing services and products to professionals and the general public. The companies have an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies.  LA Testing has laboratories throughout California to service commercial clients and government agencies as well as the general public.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical

(1) 1-800-220-3675

jfrasca@emsl.com