FRESNO (KMJ) — Another Fresno County school student has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, the second potential outbreak in three months.
The individual attends Caruthers Elementary School – the condition was confirmed in December.
“What we do, when we find out about this, is we work carefully with the school district to make sure we identify anybody that could have been possibly exposed to the other student,” explains Fresno County Public Health Officer Doctor Ken Bird.
“We test them to make sure that they have not become infected with TB.”
The disease is spread through droplets from an infected person, usually through coughing.
“On site they do a standard TB skin test, what they call a TST, and that determines whether or not the organism has actually entered a person’s body and the person has actually started to fight the organism.
“Which means they’ve established immunity against it.”
It comes after children at Bullard High School in Fresno were also found to be suffering with the same condition in October.
“There’s been no connection established between these two,” confirms Doctor Bird.
“It’s not extremely uncommon to see active TB disease in schools throughout the state. It happens.”
Parents of those who may be exposed to the disease, have already been informed.
“We have the list and anybody who doesn’t respond we will reach out to them personally.”
Hear the report from KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew as it aired:
