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Worker at Gastonia Olive Garden diagnosed with tuberculosis

GASTONIA, N.C. — An employee at the Olive Garden in Gastonia has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, according to a news release from the restaurant.

Olive Garden spokesperson, Rich Jeffers, said the restaurant has been working closely with the health department to protect its employees and guests.

No one is at immediate risk of any health problems, Health Department officials said.

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“The health and safety of our guests and team members is our top priority, and it’s completely safe to eat in our restaurant,” Jeffers said.

Jeffers said the employee did not have direct contact with customers and has not worked at the restaurant on Cox Road in more than two weeks. The employee was a busboy.

[ALSO READ: Active tuberculosis case confirmed at South Carolina high school]

The restaurant plans to work with the health department to provide free testing to employees who may have had prolonged exposure to the worker involved.

Nicole Raudez works in the health care industry and eats at Olive Garden. She believes restaurant workers should undergo testing.

“With your food and close proximity with other people, when you’re serving your community, I think that is a great idea,” restaurant patron Raudez said.

TB is a disease that generally develops over weeks to months, and it is completely curable with medications.

“We are fortunate that tuberculosis is hard to catch even when exposed to somebody with active tuberculosis, said Dr. Harish Marisiddaiah, a local Infectious disease specialist. "Serious, high-risk exposure is considered for people with close prolonged closed in contact with a person with active tuberculosis, like family members who live in the same house or coworkers. Casual contact at a store or in a restaurant is not considered a high-risk exposure.”

If there are any questions or concerns regarding this exposure, please call at 704-853-5006.

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