On July 12, Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) officials notified the management of the Subway Restaurant at 4416 Skyland Blvd. E. in Tuscaloosa of plans to investigate a case of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) identified in an employee of the establishment.

ADPH and Subway are working closely to ensure that the restaurant employees will be screened quickly.

TB is a treatable and preventable airborne disease. Persons who were in close contact with the case will be rapidly assessed and appropriate preventive measures taken, according to ADPH officials.

Only those people who were in close contact with the case need to be tested. “Close contact” is defined generally as spending an extended amount of time with the subject in a physically close environment.

Dr. Albert White, Area Health Officer for Public Health Area 3, stated, “Patrons of Subway should not be alarmed as TB is not transmitted through food or utensils. As with all identified cases of TB in Alabama, ADPH will implement precautionary testing, investigation and control measures”.

For additional information, contact Pam Barrett, director of the ADPH Tuberculosis Control Division, at (334) 206-6228 or (334) 850-1155.