TB false alarm at Petrotrin

Further testing of the Petrotrin workers who initially tested positive for the tuberculosis bacteria has revealed they do not have the disease. In a release yesterday, Petrotrin’s Corporate Communications De-partment said more detailed tests were done and the workers were found to have “no germs of tuberculosis (mycobacterium tuberculosis or other species) on sputum testing. They were discharged after three days of testing and declared free from infection of TB by the chest specialists.” It said one retiree and two Forest Reserve Unit workers were ob-served at the company’s Point Fortin Medical Centre over a three-week period this month and had tested positive using screening serology for TB. Petrotrin said the Public Health Authorities were immediately notified and the workers were sent to the San Fernando General Hospital for more tests and evaluation. They were later admitted to the Chest Clinic at the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex for further evaluation by specialists.