UPMC Employee Confirmed To Have Tuberculosis

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Officials say a UPMC employee has tuberculosis, and they're reaching out to thousands of patients and staff who may have had contact with the employee.

According to UPMC, the employee works in the UPMC Presbyterian Emergency Department and was seen as a patient at a UPMC Presbyterian ophthalmology clinic and a Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC physician's office.

UPMC says patients and staff who may have had contact with this employee when he or she may have been infectious have been notified, but the likelihood of contracting TB from this employee "is thought to be low."

The hospital says they are notifying those who might have come into contact with the person out of an abundance of caution.

A man contacted KDKA TV recently who says he got a letter from UPMC saying he may have been exposed to tuberculosis while visiting the hospital back in December of last year.

The Allegheny County Health Department and UPMC are collaborating to test those patients and staff members at no charge.

According to UPMC, the employee is on leave and recovering at home. Anyone with questions is encouraged to call the UPMC hotline at 1-844-516-1177.