TACOMA, Wash. — A woman who had previously refused treatment after receiving a tuberculosis diagnosis is now fully cured, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD).
The Tacoma woman previously refused to isolate herself after learning she had TB, and furthermore refused to take any medication for the disease.
In early 2023, a Pierce County judge ordered that she be arrested and taken to a facility at the Pierce County Jail if she continued to refuse treatment or isolation. Court documents outlined that an officer with the Pierce County Corrections Bureau spotted her leaving her home, riding a city bus and visiting a casino.
That June, she was taken into custody by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department after continued refusal to isolate herself or take medication.
Upon being taken to the jail, the woman "realized how serious her situation was and decided to treat her illness," according to TPCHD. She was released on electronic home monitoring on June 23 and required to remain there until Aug. 28.
She was required to remain in isolation until medical tests established that she no longer presented a threat to the public.
After more than a year, the woman has tested negative for the disease, gained all the weight back she lost during her illness and "is healthy again," according to the department.
This case is the third in 20 years where the health department has sought a court order to detain someone who is potentially contagious and refusing to seek treatment for tuberculosis.
The department said seeking a court order is a last resort, only taken after they exhaust all other options. State code directs the department to prevent the spread of tuberculosis, meaning they have a legal responsibility to take steps to protect community health.