SANDUSKY, Ohio – Erie County health officials have confirmed that only one person tested positive for tuberculosis at the Cedar Point dorms, dispelling rumors of a possible outbreak.
Erie County Health Commissioner Peter Schade confirmed that a woman from Colombia who arrived in the area about 11 weeks ago to work at Cedar Point is being treated for tuberculosis (TB). Investigators believe that person had tuberculosis before entering the country, and she was asymptomatic when she arrived.
Several weeks ago, members of the State Department contacted the Erie County Health Department to report a possible active tuberculosis case. Local health officials went to Cedar Point to find the person in question.
She was isolated, has been in treatment for weeks, and has never had the opportunity to work a shift at the amusement park.
The health department tested 100 people in the dorms and found no other positive results. During a follow-up test, two out of 100 people received a false positive reading, which could be attributed to previous infections in childhood. Both of these people came to the area from different countries. Health officials were able to confirm that those two individuals do not have an active case.
The woman with tuberculosis has been treated, and her condition is improving. The health department stated that she will return to her home country once her treatment is complete.
The health commissioner stated that there was no tuberculosis outbreak at Cedar Point or in Erie County, and that misinformation was spread online.
