TB Breakout In Kansas
TB Breakout In Kansas, A tuberculosis outbreak at a Kansas high school has spread to nearly 30 people, state health officials said Wednesday.
Twenty-seven students and staff members at Olathe Northwest High School are being treated for the potentially deadly disease, which broke out after a student was diagnosed earlier this month.
More than 300 people at the school tested for tuberculosis were exposed after being in close contact with the teen, officials said.
The number of people infected was still relatively small and “does not exceed what we would anticipate in this setting,” said Lougene Marsh, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
“Of course, we had hoped we wouldn’t find any additional TB cases, but we knew this was a possibility,” Marsh said. “That’s why we took such thorough steps to test everyone who might have been in close contact with the first confirmed case of TB disease.”
Those infected were alerted Monday. They will now have to take more blood tests, chest x-rays and begin treatment with antibiotics to kill the bacteria for up to nine months, the health department said.
Tuberculosis, which is curable, is spread through the air by coughing, laughing, singing and sneezing.
Symptoms can include a cough longer than three weeks, fever, night sweats, cough and weight loss.
“Early identification and treatment of TB infection is the key to preventing progression to TB disease,” Marsh said.
Twenty-seven students and staff members at Olathe Northwest High School are being treated for the potentially deadly disease, which broke out after a student was diagnosed earlier this month.
More than 300 people at the school tested for tuberculosis were exposed after being in close contact with the teen, officials said.
The number of people infected was still relatively small and “does not exceed what we would anticipate in this setting,” said Lougene Marsh, director of the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment.
“Of course, we had hoped we wouldn’t find any additional TB cases, but we knew this was a possibility,” Marsh said. “That’s why we took such thorough steps to test everyone who might have been in close contact with the first confirmed case of TB disease.”
Those infected were alerted Monday. They will now have to take more blood tests, chest x-rays and begin treatment with antibiotics to kill the bacteria for up to nine months, the health department said.
Tuberculosis, which is curable, is spread through the air by coughing, laughing, singing and sneezing.
Symptoms can include a cough longer than three weeks, fever, night sweats, cough and weight loss.
“Early identification and treatment of TB infection is the key to preventing progression to TB disease,” Marsh said.