(COLDWATER) - A case of tuberculosis has been confirmed in Branch County.
The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency says they are actively treating and monitoring an individual diagnosed with active tuberculosis.
Disease Prevention Director Heidi Hazel says the CHA has placed the individual under quarantine measures and strict treatment protocols to help minimize any risk of infection to the public. She says the individual is receiving monitoring on a daily basis to make sure they are adhering to their medication and an initial 14-day quarantine period during which they are considered most infectious.
Hazel says when the treatment reduces contagiousness, then the individual can reintegrate into the community.
Because of privacy laws, health officials can not release the patient's identity or their specific location within Branch County.
Symptoms of active TB can include a persistent cough, weight loss, night sweats, and fatigue. These often develop over weeks or even months.
This is the second case of TB in Branch County in 2026.
Hazel says that even though TB is still present in Michigan, cases are relatively rare.