The employee, who was not named, is being treated and is not present in the hospital, officials said.

“Although the risk of infection is extremely low, the hospital is taking all recommended precautionary measures and working closely with the Health Department to provide notification and testing for any patient or hospital employee who may have had close contact with the affected individual between Oct. 12, 2008, and Feb. 29, 2009,” said George Parsley, Scenic Mountain Medical Center CEO.

Approximately 300 patients who may have had contact with the employee will receive a letter from the Health Department informing them of possible exposure and outlining the process for testing, according to Jose Padilla, communicable disease program manager for Health Services in Region 9/10. He added that a simple skin test is involved and testing is free.

“We are in the process of formatting the 300 names right now,” Padilla said Friday afternoon. “We plan to have the letters mailed no later than Wednesday.”

Padilla said the letters will have instructions telling the recipient what to do and who to contact.

“We'd like them to bring the letter in with them when they are tested so we can verify who they are,” said Padilla.

Hospital employees who may have had exposure are also being tested, said Parsley. He added that testing on employees should be completed Monday. Thus far, all tests have been negative, he said.

Tuberculosis is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a type of bacteria that can be spread when respiratory droplets from an infected person with symptoms are transmitted to another person. TB primarily affects the lungs and symptoms include coughing, shortness of breath, a low-grade fever and possible loss of appetite.

“Even for individuals who have been exposed to TB, the risk of infection is very minimal,” said Steve Ahmed, M.D., chief of staff at Scenic Mountain Medical Center. “When diagnosed, this type of TB is highly treatable with the use of antibiotics.”