MIAMI — Days after a case of active tuberculosis was found in a Florida high school, the federal detention center in Miami has confirmed its own single case, authorities said.
On Friday, officials confirmed one active case at the Federal Detention Center in Miami and said that measures were being taken to lessen exposure.
“In collaboration with the local public health department, the Federal Bureau of Prisons is taking the necessary precautionary measures to protect staff, inmates, and the community from the possibility of being exposed to TB in accordance with the guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),” Federal Bureau of Prisons officials said.
On Tuesday, the Florida Department of Health confirmed there was a tuberculosis case at Dillard High School. Officials said the person was recently on campus, and Broward County Public Schools notified students. Testing was offered to affected students with parental consent.
Tuberculosis, also known as TB, is a bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs, but can also affect other organs, including the brain and kidneys. The disease spreads through inhaling respiratory droplets from an infected person.
The U.S. has seen a rise in TB cases since 2021, with Florida recording over 600 cases in 2024, making it the fourth-highest state for TB infections. The country recorded 10,347 TB cases in 2024, an 8% increase from 2023, attributed to post-pandemic healthcare disruptions and increased travel.
Tuberculosis can be either latent or active. Inactive TB isn’t contagious and shows no symptoms, while active TB is contagious and presents symptoms such as a persistent cough and or blood upon coughing.
By DEVOUN CETOUTE/Miami Herald
Miami Herald Cops and Breaking News Reporter Devoun Cetoute covers a plethora of Florida topics, from breaking news to crime patterns. He was on the breaking news team that won a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. He’s a graduate of the University of Florida, born and raised in Miami-Dade. Theme parks, movies and cars are on his mind in and out of the office.
