LYNX Rider Diagnosed With Tuberculosis
POSTED: Wednesday, September 20, 2006
UPDATED: 7:24 am EDT September 20, 2006
ORLANDO, Fla. -- A man who recently used a
Lynx bus to travel around Central Florida was confirmed to have Tuberculosis, the Seminole County Health Department confirmed Tuesday night.
Officials believe that the infected passenger boarded a bus at a stop somewhere between Orlando and Seminole County. However, the exact location was not made available.
Local 6 News reported that during the bus trip, the infected rider came in contact with possibly hundreds of people.
"We don't know who has it and who does not," bus rider Joan Smith said. "You're exposed to someone, you take this home to your family and you're among your friends. This is very serious."
A Seminole County Health Department representative, Denise Ford, said the bus trip was likely not long enough to expose people to Tuberculosis.
"It's actually very difficult to get it," Ford said. "Normally, if you're in a small room over a prolonged period of time, and we're talking about hours and weeks."
Bus driver Jose Molina said if he shows any symptoms, he will get tested immediately.
"Are you concerned?" Local 6's Erik von Ancken asked.
"Yeah, because of the amount of people who come on the bus," Molina said.
As a precaution, the health department will test all bus drivers next month -- when any symptoms would show up.
Doctors said symptoms include a bad cough, chills, a fever and weakness.
Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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