GRANT COUNTY — Three Royal city residents and two Quincy residents were diagnosed with tuberculosis last week.

The disease is treatable, but highly contagious, said Grant County Health District public information officer Theresa Fuller.

“This is a lot of cases all at once, which is unusual at this time of year,” Fuller said. “Public safety is a priority.”

Health district nurse practitioners are traveling to the patient’s homes every day to provide medication and check on progress.

“The public shouldn’t be worried because we are taking precautions,” said TB coordinator Anieca Ashley. “We are on it.”

Those in close contact with the patients were tested for contamination and await their results. Cultures typically take eight weeks to process.

“Each case has been completely different,” Ashley said. “For example, one came in with a chronic cough and the other had stomach pain and was losing weight.”

Tuberculosis is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacterium. It attacks the lungs but can also affect the central nervous system, the lymphatic system, the circulatory system, the genitourinary system, the gastrointestinal system, bones, joints, and even the skin, according to a medical Web site.

Symptoms of tuberculosis include chest pain, weight loss, insomnia and chronic cough. Patients who come in to a doctor’s office with these symptoms undergo a skin test, a spit collection and have an x-ray of their chest taken. They are also asked about living conditions and latest travels, according to Ashley.

“Those who travel to countries with a high-rate of tuberculosis or are in a congregate living situation are at high risk,” Ashley explained.

Only those who live or work in close contact with someone infected with tuberculosis has cause for concern.

“You can’t get it standing in the grocery line next to someone who has it,” Ashley said.

Diagnosed patients are given a four-drug regimen for up to nine months. Many are given an order from the health processer for in-home isolation for five months to avoid contaminating the public. Others are given restrictions and protective wear, such as a face mask, said Fuller.

“We are in close contact with health care providers in each community and will continue monitoring the affected residents’ progress,” Fuller said.

Grant County Health District is located at 903 W. Third Ave. in Moses Lake.

For more information, call 509-766-7960 or 509-754-6060.