The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment issued a public health order directing the GEO Group to participate in the ongoing tuberculosis investigation at the Aurora ICE Processing Center.

The Adams County Health Department confirmed an active case of tuberculosis at the Aurora GEO Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in June.

Since then, the department has requested information and access to investigate the case, but been denied by GEO.

On Thursday, the CDPHE issued a public health order as well, directing GEO to provide the information needed for the investigation.

It gives GEO until Aug. 17 to submit medical information for anyone with confirmed or suspected tuberculosis, information about potential contacts and discharge and transfer information for the person who was confirmed to have tuberculosis.

GEO has provided general statements that the person with tuberculosis was isolated, that GEO conducted contact tracing, that the person left with medication and no active cases remain at the facility, according to the CDPHE.

Officials have not been able to confirm that information.

The CDPHE tried to investigate in collaboration with GEO like they would with any other facility in the state, Executive Director Jill Hunsaker Ryan said in a news release. However, repeated requests have not been met.

“CDPHE’s priority is protecting everyone connected to the facility, including detained people, employees, contractors, visitors and the broader community,” Ryan said.

Colorado law states that local public health agencies are required to investigate every confirmed tuberculosis case, a process that includes a patient interview, medical record review, contact identification and notification, testing, treatment and follow-up.

CDPHE officials believe the risk to the general public is low, but “it remains urgent that public health officials can confirm this directly.”