AKRON, OH (WCMH) — According to the Summit County Public Health, a patient that tested positive for pulmonary tuberculosis in January visited the NICU at the Akron’s Children Hospital.

Before being diagnosed with TB disease, the individual visited the Akron Children’s Hospital neonatal intensive care unit at Summa Akron City Hospital in mid-November through mid-December, 2016.

Infants who were in the NICU at the Akron Children’s Hospital campus were not at risk of exposure.

Summit County Public Health said they have shared this information with Summa-Akron City Hospital and Akron Children’s Hospital, which operates the neonatal intensive care unit.

The three organizations have worked collaboratively to identify approximately 50 families of infants who were patients in the unit during this time and may have been exposed to the disease. Akron Children’s has begun notifying these families directly.

“The risk for infection is low, but because TB can be more serious in young children we would like to evaluate these infants and begin them on a protective antibiotic,” said Dr. John Bower, a pediatric infectious disease specialist at Akron Children’s Hospital. “We have set up a clinic and are providing this care at no cost to our patient families.”

“Adult care givers, older children and other individuals who may have visited the unit only during this time period are also encouraged to have a TB test in 6 to 8 weeks to see if they have been infected,” said Dr. Margo Erme, medical director of the Summit County Health Department. “This would be about 10 to 12 weeks after the last potential exposure which is the time for the body to develop its response to the TB bacteria. If testing is done earlier, the person would still need to return in 6-8 weeks to be retested. Testing can be done by their private physician or at Summit County Public Health by calling the Clinic Appointment Line, 330-375-2772.”

While TB is contagious, it is difficult for the disease to spread from person to person. Therefore, there is minimal risk to the greater public.

For more information, contact Summit County Public Health at 330-375-2662 Monday – Friday from 8:00am – 4:00pm and 330-283-6380 after hours on weekends or holidays or visit www.scphoh.org.