Utah People's Post

The Latest News from the Beehive State

Saturday, December 9, 2023
Log in
  • National News
    • Female Caseworker Killed & Doctor Shot in Philadelphia
  • State News
    • Car Chase Leads to Drug Arrest
  • Tech & Science
  • Health
    • How to Prepare For Ticks Season
    • Magical Weight Loss Bean Scam
  • Sports
  • Business
You are here: Home / Health / Contagious Tuberculosis Patient from Santa Barbara Receives Arrest Warrant

Contagious Tuberculosis Patient from Santa Barbara Receives Arrest Warrant

August 24, 2014 Posted by Amelia Donovan

Medical officials are afraid that diseases can very quickly spread and become outbreaks because we live in an interconnected world. This is exactly why Santa Barbara forces are trying to avoid the spread of Tuberculosis. Authorities of the Santa Barbara Health Department have just released an arrest warrant for a 24-year-old tuberculosis patient who decided to stop taking his medication.

1204TBoutbreak540

His name is Agustin Zeferino and he was being treated for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB). He discontinued treatment approximately two weeks ago. As a result, the Santa Barbara County Health Department specialists concluded that he poses a serious threat to anyone that comes in contact with it.

“With appropriate treatment tuberculosis can be cured. Without treatment, it is often fatal and poses a public health threat due to airborne transmission. This is particularly true for drug-resistant cases. If Mr. Zeferino is contagious and he is out in our community, it is a public health emergency.” – Dr. Charity Thoman

Medical specialists also say that multidrug-resistant tuberculosis is a form of tuberculosis which resists primary drugs (like rifampin and isoniazied) administered during the treatment of regular tuberculosis. Also, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.3 percent of all tuberculosis cases become multidrug resistant ones. Sadly, these cases are increasingly difficult to treat and they represent a real threat to patients and community.

“We do everywring we can to enable and give parents incentives to be compliant with receiving treatments. This is the most dangerous form of tuberculosis and it can be life-threatening if it gues untreated.”

We still do not know why Zeferino decided to discontinue treatment, but health officials have made it very clear that he already had receved extensive information and medical consultation on the matter. Although health officials cannot force a patient to accept treatment, they have the necessary authority to contain him if he is a threat to the general population. For example, federal isolation and quarantine are authorized for specific communicable diseases like diphtheria, cholera and infectious tuberculosis.

This is not the first situation when a patient is arrested for refusing treatment. Eduardo Rosas Cruz was apprehended in Fresno after refusing treatment a month ago. Zeferino may have stopped his treatment two weeks ago, but he will probably also be taken in by officials to ensure that the bacteria does not spread to innocent bystanders.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Share on Tumblr
  • Email

Filed Under: Health Tagged With: arrest warrant, health news, Santa Barbara Arrest warrant, tuberculosis disease, tuberculosis patient

mm

About Amelia Donovan

Amelia got her feet wet in the captivating world of journalism while still in college, working as the editor of the university’s newspaper. She minored in Journalism and Mass Communication before receiving a scholarship at a prestigious German university. After receiving her bachelor’s degree, Amelia went on to pursue her biggest passions: journalism and science. She enjoys being up to date with any cutting-edge scientific advancements and her minor in biology allowed Amelia to accurately cover particularly interesting medical topics.

Woman working out at the gym

Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

June 29, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

June 29, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

United Airlines airplane

Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston

June 28, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Breakfast sandwich

Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

June 27, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Poppy flower

UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply

June 27, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

U.S.-Canada border

French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border

June 26, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Plus size model

Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

June 25, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Giant manta ray

Unique Manta Ray Nursery Spotted off Texas Coast

June 23, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

The rainbow flag

WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

June 22, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

June 21, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Kenyan girls dancing

Kenyans Facing Poor Nutrition as Supermarket Shopping Is on the Rise

June 20, 2018 By Amelia Donovan

Pages

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy GDPR
  • Staff
  • Terms and Conditions

Recent Posts

  • Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time
  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)
  • Passenger Mysteriously Dies on United Airlines flight Bound for Boston
  • Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat
  • UN Warns of Surge in Opium-based Drugs and Cocaine Supply
  • French Jogger Detained 2 Weeks for Accidentally Crossing Border
  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

Related Articles

  • Woman working out at the gym

    Just 23% of Americans Are Working Out Enough in Their Spare Time

    Jun 29, 2018
  • Poliovirus Therapy Gives Brain Cancer Patients New Hope (Study)

    Jun 29, 2018
  • Breakfast sandwich

    Here Are Some Foods No Nutritionist Would Ever Eat

    Jun 27, 2018
  • Normalizing Plus Size Could Fuel Obesity Crisis (Study)

    Jun 25, 2018
  • The rainbow flag

    WHO Scraps Transgenderism from List of Mental Illnesses

    Jun 22, 2018
  • 456 People Dead at U.K. Hospital after Taking too Many Painkillers

    Jun 21, 2018
  • Young woman affected by depression

    If You Have PTSD You Were Likely Abused as a Child

    Jun 19, 2018
  • Obese dog on a leash

    Obese Dogs Can Help Us Better Understand How Obesity Works

    Jun 18, 2018
  • Our Brains Are Craving Combinations of Fats and Carbs (Study)

    Jun 15, 2018
  • Hungry bird with beck open

    Scientists Explain Why We Get ‘Hangry’

    Jun 13, 2018

Categories

  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Health
  • National News
  • Nature
  • Provo
  • Salt Lake News
  • Science
  • Sports
  • State News
  • Tech & Science
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • West Jordan
  • West Valley City
  • World

Copyright © 2023 utahpeoplespost.com

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Site Map · Contact