A woman from Washington state who refused a judge's order to isolate or treat infectious tuberculosis for more than a year was taken into custody.

It is reported by the New York Times.

The arrest came nearly three months after a civilian warrant was issued against her.

The woman's name was not disclosed by health officials, in court documents she was identified by the initials VN.

In a statement, the health department said the woman was taken to the Pierce County Jail, where she will be placed in a room "specially equipped for isolation, testing and treatment."

"We hope that she will choose the life-saving treatment she needs to treat tuberculosis," the statement said.

The Department of Health ordered the patient's isolation back in January 2022 - after she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. Officials worked with her family and community members for more than a year trying to convince her to undergo treatment, but she refused to comply. In March 2023, the county obtained a civil arrest warrant for her forced detention.

The department said the case was only the third in 20 years to seek a court order to detain a potentially contagious patient who refused treatment.

It is unclear why exactly the woman refused isolation or treatment. However, her lawyer, Sarah Tofflemair, argued in a statement that the woman refused treatment because she did not understand what was happening.

Under Washington state law, healthcare professionals are required to report cases and work with patients to ensure they receive treatment in case of active cases.

Recall that in the north of Israel, a 60-year-old man became infected with a dangerous bacterium after swimming in the jacuzzi and relaxing in the sauna. After winning a lawsuit against the owner of the establishment, he will receive more than 1 million shekels (almost $ 170 thousand) as compensation.

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