Superbowl & Tuberculosis Safety

The Kansas City metro area is currently experiencing the largest tuberculosis outbreak in recorded history in the United States.

The Super Bowl is on Sunday February 9th. The Kansas City Chiefs and thousands of their fans will be here in New Orleans. The last thing we need is a repeat of the city being a guinea pig for covid infections after Mardi Gras 2020. Per usual, we have to look out for each other since neither the state or federal government can be relied upon for help.

Please take the tuberculosis outbreak into consideration as you make your Super Bowl plans. Risk of infection is not necessarily very high, but the consequences of getting TB are extreme. Coughing up blood is the most obvious symptom of Tuberculosis. Symptoms will be listed at the bottom of this post.

Tuberculosis is an extremely serious illness that REQUIRES 4-9 months of antibiotic treatment, plus long-term follow up x-rays. Both the illness and treatment are very hard on the body. Without treatment it is life threatening. 

Some steps you can take:

  •   Wear a well-fitting KN95, KF94, or N95 mask to the game and all related activities involving fans from KC. If you don’t mask outside, at the very least mask indoors at the stadium and in the restrooms. 
  •   Wear a well-fitting KN95, KF94, or N95 mask in all public spaces for at least one week after the game is over.
  •   Open windows and/or run air purifiers at home with family, friends, and visitors for at least a week after the game is over. Cross ventilation is great. Even cracking a window can provide some decent ventilation.
  • Cancel or reschedule plans with people visiting from KC who are showing symptoms of any infectious illness. 
  • Consider moving your gatherings outside or even masking while spending time with visitors. 

Personally, I use 3M Aura N95s because they are fairly comfortable and very secure. They can be found at Office Depot, $22.89 for 20 masks. The masks are reusable 2-3 times as long as they don't get dirty or wet, or the straps become loose.

For service industry workers: mask up with high quality masks (KN95, KF94, or N95) at work if you're able to. Surgical & cloth masks are not enough protection. Reach out to FightCovidNola on Twitter or Instagram to request free, high quality masks. 

Mask during and after the event for at least a week. Honestly I recommend masking at work indefinitely if you can since it’s not worth getting sick for an employer.

The football fans will be spreading flu, RSV, Covid, mycoplasma pneumonia, norovirus, and tuberculosis. 

If you can't mask at work, or even if you can, open windows, doors, run fans, and run air purifiers if you have them. Make sure the HVAC system at your place of employment is ON. Feel free to DM me to troubleshoot workplace precautions.

Tuberculosis symptoms from the CDC website:

Active TB disease in the lungs may cause symptoms such as

  • A bad cough that lasts 3 weeks or longer
  • Pain in the chest
  • Coughing up blood or sputum (phlegm) from deep inside the lungs

Other symptoms of active TB disease are:

  • Weakness or fatigue,
  • Weight loss,
  • No appetite,
  • Chills, Fever, and Sweating at night.

Symptoms of active TB disease Symptoms of active TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected

  • TB disease of the lymph nodes may cause a firm red or purple swelling under the skin.
  •   TB disease of the kidney may cause blood in the urine.
  •   TB meningitis (TB disease of the brain) may cause headache or confusion.
  •   TB disease of the spine may cause back pain.
  •   TB disease of the larynx may cause hoarseness.

Good luck & stay safe out there!