FRESNO, CA (KMJ) – The Department of Public Health announced Friday that a Bullard High School student was diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) disease this year. Officials say it has been determined that people who were in close contact with the student may have been exposed to tuberculosis.
The Fresno County Department of Public Health says it’s working closely with Fresno Unified School District to identify and notify those in need of testing. The student is currently being treated and monitored.
David Luchini, the Assistant Director at the Fresno County Health Department (seen above), says they were notified last week, that the student was diagnosed with active TB disease. They determined the student was infected sometime around September 29th.
Luchini says so far, 270 students and a dozen staff at Bullard High have been identified to undergo testing on Tuesday, October 11th with results expected to come back by Thursday or Friday.
The Fresno Unified School District says it has a plan of action and has been notifying Bullard students who need to be tested by calling their parents, sending a letter home (seen below), and they will make a visit to the homes of any students who were absent to inform them of the situation.
TB bacteria gets into the air when a person with active TB disease of the lungs or throat –coughs, sneezes, speaks, or sings.
You cannot get TB from
- •clothes
- •drinking glass
- •eating utensils
- •handshake
- •toilet
- •other surfaces
District officials say if you think you have been exposed, you should contact the Bullard High School Nurse (559) 451-4320 or the Fresno County Health Department (559) 600-3200.
Here is a link to the CDC for more details about Tuberculosis: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/TBsymptoms/index.html
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