Global Courant
A Washington state woman with tuberculosis has been arrested and jailed after she refused to isolate.
The unidentified Tacoma woman — who was referred to only as “UN” in court documents — was taken to Pierce County Jail and is being held in a room specially equipped for isolation, testing and treatment, the Tacoma health department said. Pierce County in a statement this week.
“We are hopeful that she will choose to receive the life-saving treatment she needs to manage her tuberculosis,” the health department said, thanking the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department deputies “who supported public health with this necessary intervention.” “
WOMAN WITH TUBERCULOSIS IS PRISON AND FORCED TREATMENT AFTER REFUSING ISOLATION AND VISITING A CASINO
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department said they hope the woman “will choose the life-saving treatment she needs to manage her tuberculosis.” (Spencer Platt/Getty Images)
The woman’s arrest comes after the public health department first ordered her to self-isolate on Jan. 18, according to the Tacoma News Tribune.
According to court documents, the woman refused to self-isolate or be treated, and a Pierce County Corrections Bureau officer caught her taking a public bus to a casino while under surveillance.
In March, Judge Philip Sorenson gave police permission to detain her, issuing an order involuntarily detaining, testing and treating the woman at the Pierce County Jail.
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An image of tuberculosis bacillus that causes the severe disease in the air. (iStock)
Pierce County Corrections Bureau Chief Patricia Jackson said at the time that she believed the woman was actively evading arrest.
The woman’s case is only the third time in the past 20 years that the health department has applied for an injunction to detain a potentially infectious person who refuses treatment.
The Tacoma-Province County Health Department sees about 20 cases of active tuberculosis each year, which health care providers are required to report under state law.
Common symptoms of tuberculosis include cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss, according to the World Health Organization. (Reuters/Denis Balibouse)
Global Courant
Tuberculosis is an airborne disease caused by bacteria that primarily affects the lungs. Common symptoms include cough, fever, night sweats and weight loss, according to the World Health Organization.
Jon Brown is a writer for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].
