Tuberculosis outbreak at Maître factory in Oude-Tonge

Multiple employees at Maître, a meal supplier in Oude-Tonge, Zuid-Holland, have tested positive for tuberculosis (TB), according to a company statement released Sunday on its website.

Van Loon Group, the parent company of Maître, was first informed of the outbreak on Oct. 18, 2024, when the Rotterdam municipal health service (GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond) confirmed that one employee had contracted an infectious strain of TB. Contact tracing was conducted in November and December, revealing three additional infections.

Further testing took place on Feb. 10 at the Oude-Tonge facility. On Feb. 13, the results showed multiple additional cases. The company did not specify the exact number of infections, but De Telegraaf reported that 80 employees had tested positive out of a workforce of approximately 165. Two workers were reportedly severely ill.

A spokesperson for GGD Rotterdam-Rijnmond could not confirm the reported infection count on Sunday.

"At Van Loon Group, the health of our employees and a safe work environment are our top priorities," the company stated. "Since the first notification, we have been in direct contact with the TB expert team at GGD and are closely following their recommendations and measures."

As a precaution, employees who showed a reaction during testing were scheduled for additional examinations, including chest X-rays and blood tests, early this week at the GGD Rotterdam facility.

TB is a bacterial infection that can cause severe respiratory issues, including difficulty breathing, fever, weight loss, loss of appetite, and night sweats. If untreated, the disease can lead to serious complications and death.

While relatively rare in the Netherlands, TB was diagnosed in 710 people nationwide in 2023, according to public health data.