EL PASO, Texas, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- The Department of Public Health in El Paso, Texas said on Monday that more than 700 infants and 40 health care workers have been exposed to tuberculosis.

According to officials, an employee at Providence Memorial Hospital came in with an active case of TB sometime between Sept. 2013 and Aug. 2014.


The employee worked with infants in the nursery and in the post-partum unit of the hospital according to the health department.

The hospital has identified 706 infants and 43 workers exposed to the disease during that time period.

The family of each patient was sent a certified letter from the hospital and is being contacted by phone with instructions on how to get tested for TB. All tests are being done free of charge by the health department and the hospital.

The owner of the hospital -- Sierra Providence Health Network -- said the worker is no longer working and is getting treatment.

Last week the Teas Department of State Health Services investigated the hospital and cited them "for deficiencies that represent immediate jeopardy to patient health and safety," said Carrie Williams, the department's director of media relations.