Active tuberculosis case at Aegis Living prompts evaluation of 38 staff and residents

An individual within the Aegis Living retirement community in Issaquah was diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) on Monday.

Public Health – Seattle & King County is currently working with Aegis Living to determine the extent of any potential exposures and to conduct evaluations of staff and residents, Public Health announced.

Public Health has recommended that 38 individuals associated with the facility be evaluated for TB as a precaution. The number is determined by the amount of time they were exposed to the person with active TB in any indoor spaces.

Aegis Living Issaquah individual receiving TB treatment

The person with active TB is currently receiving treatment from Public Health. The department noted that active TB cases are treatable with commonly available antibiotics, and treatment typically takes six to nine months.

If any additional individuals are identified to be infected with a TB infection, Public Health will connect them to treatment that will kill the TB germs and further prevent them from developing diseases in the future.

TB is an infectious disease caused by bacteria spread from person to person through the air. TB does not spread easily and is much less contagious than COVID-19, the flu, or a cold.

TB generally affects the lungs, but can also impact the lymph nodes, bones, and joints, among other parts of the body. Individuals with active TB in the lungs can spread the disease by coughing or sneezing.

In King County, 110 new cases of TB were reported in 2024, with approximately two cases of TB being diagnosed in King County each week.

Public Health noted that TB is a worldwide threat, with more than two million deaths each year, as many parts of the world do not have access to treatment or effective TB control programs.

Follow Jason Sutich on X. Send news tips here.