While six cases of active tuberculosis have been confirmed in the department, the authorities are organizing widespread screening to limit the spread of the infectious disease.
- Since August 2024, a resurgence of tuberculosis has affected the Jura, with six confirmed cases, two probable and around ten non-contagious latent infections.
- The first case, detected in a minor in Lons-le-Saunier, led to screenings in his school and sports club, targeting 50 people via blood tests and x-rays.
- Tuberculosis, caused by Koch’s bacillus, is transmitted through the air during prolonged contact. Although asymptomatic in 90% of cases, it can become active and contagious.
Since August 2024, a resurgence of tuberculosis has affected the Jura department, causing concern among health authorities. Initially identified in an isolated minor in Lons-le-Saunier, the source of contamination led to the implementation of rigorous measures, in particular targeted screenings to avoid wider spread.
Six confirmed cases of tuberculosis and reinforced screening
The first case was detected in August in a juvenile home. Following this diagnosis, the Regional Health Agency (ARS) identified the contacts of the young patient, revealing a more complex situation than expected. In a press release published on Thursday, December 5, the ARS indicates that six cases of active tuberculosis have been confirmed, and the people hospitalized. Two other probable cases are still awaiting confirmation, and around ten people are “carrying a non-contagious latent infection and currently benefiting from appropriate preventive treatment”.
To limit the chain of transmission, screening was organized in the young patient’s school and sports club. In total, around fifty people are affected by the screening, which consists of “a blood test and possibly a chest x-ray”specifies the ARS. This intervention aims to detect possible latent infections and prevent progression to an active form of the disease.
Note that Jura is not the only department to experience a resurgence of tuberculosis: cases were recently detected in a high school in Lyon and in a nursery school in Libourne, in Gironde.
Asymptomatic disease in 90% of cases
Tuberculosis, caused by Koch’s bacillus, mainly affects the lungs, although it can affect other organs such as the kidneys, spine or brain. Transmitted by air, it requires prolonged contact to spread. Its transmission also depends “the degree of contagiousness of the sick person as well as the duration of contact (at least several hours of contact are usually necessary)”, explains the Ministry of Health.
Tuberculosis mainly presents with persistent cough, fatigue, night sweats and weight loss. However, in 90% of cases, it remains asymptomatic and non-contagious, in the form of latent tuberculosis infection. According to the Pasteur Instituteonly 10% of infected people will develop active tuberculosis disease, most within the first years following exposure to the bacillus.
In 2023, a record number of new cases of tuberculosis were reported worldwide. Despite a slight decline in deaths (from 1.32 million in 2022 to 1.25 million in 2023), the disease remains a global health challenge. “The fact that tuberculosis continues to reach and kill so many people is a scandal, even though we have the tools necessary to prevent, detect and treat it”emphasized Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the WHO, last October.
