BEIJING, July 24(Xinhuanet)-- The U.S. navy will test
all 4,800 crew members of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan for
tuberculosis (TB) after initial tests last week showed some
sailors had tested positive for the disease, naval officials were
quoted as saying by media reports Monday.
The first round of tests was ordered after
a 32-year-old sailor was hospitalized two weeks ago with an active case of
TB. He was on board the ship when it returned to San Diego on July 6 from a
six-month deployment.
As many as 1,200 family and friends who were on board for
part of the trip between Hawaii and San Diego have been tested for the
disease.
Of the 776 people who were in contact with the sailor, 4.4
percent have tested positive, Capt frank Capman told reporters.
However, none of the 34 showed symptoms of active
tuberculosis and were contagious, Chapman said.
The infected sailor who was originally diagnosed with
TB was released to his own home July 19. He is being treated with antibiotics
and will remain in quarantine until he is no longer considered infectious.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says less
than one percent of those who test positive develop the active disease.
Enditem
(Agencies)
