NEWPORT-Circuit Court Judge Rex Ogle and a state health official said Friday, Oct. 26 that there is no cause for the public to be alarmed over potential widespread cases of tuberculosis because of an infected woman currently quarantined at the Newport Medical Center.

"Everybody at risk has been contacted and tested," said Gail Harmon, a state health official. Harmon is the Assistant Regional Director for the East Tennessee Department of Health located in Knoxville.

Harmon said she did not know the results of the TB tests.

The Tennessee Supreme Court appointed Judge Ogle to oversee the case after Cocke County General Sessions Judge John Bell recused himself.

The Cocke County woman, whose identity is being not being made public due to HIPPA and other privacy laws, was "picked up (civilly)" on Friday, Oct. 19, and transported to a special room at the Newport Medical Center, as ordered by Judge Bell, and held for five days.

For more details, please see the latest edition of the Newport Plain Talk.