Alabama health officials are planning to test for tuberculosis at an automotive plant near Montgomery after one employee was confirmed to be infected.
Pam Barrett, the director of tuberculosis control with the Alabama Department of Public Health, says testing and evaluations will begin today at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama outside Montgomery. Barrett says only the employees who were in close contact with the infected worker will need to be tested.
Pulmonary tuberculosis is an airborne disease that can be spread when someone coughs or even speaks. Symptoms include chest pains and a bad cough. Tuberculosis is treatable, but advanced cases can be deadly.
The Hyundai plant employs more than 3,000 workers.