Infants and babies tested for tuberculosis after Queensland hospital worker tests positive

There are fears infants and newborn babies who were treated in a Queensland hospital could be infected with tuberculosis after a hospital health worker was diagnosed with the infectious disease.

Queensland Health said they were offering screenings to the families of almost 40 children under the age of two who may have come into contact with the health worker between March and May.

They did not stipulate whether the infected patient was a nurse or doctor or which hospital was involved, however the individual stopped working immediately when they tested positive to the disease five weeks ago.

The illness was detected as a part of routine screening procedures.

The risk of the infants being infected is low and the tests are precautionary, as the disease is generally treatable and curable.

However, tuberculosis can be deadly if left undetected as symptoms can take up to three months to manifest.