Georgia Health Officials: Tucker High School Students, Staff Received Treatment for TB Infection

DeKalb County, Ga., Board of Health officials said Monday over three dozen people at Tucker High School have tested positive for TB infection and are receiving treatment. Spokesperson Vickie Elisa said education, counseling and, if needed, medication and other medical assistance were provided for those who tested positive for TB infection. None of the 37 staff or students who tested positive for TB had the active or contagious form of the disease. "The health department is doing everything possible. We want to make sure none of the exposures continue to become active TB disease," said Elisa.

A TB investigation by county health officials began at Tucker High in October after one person was found to have active TB and was removed for treatment. Someone with active TB who coughs or sneezes can spread the disease to others via infectious airborne bacteria. Officials said the initial active case was resistant to standard TB medications and required special drugs.

A second round of testing was conducted at the school in January after a few people who previously tested negative in October tested positive, according to health officials. However, there were still no active cases of the disease. Testing last Wednesday was done for students and staff who had yet to be tested.

Health officials began TB testing earlier this month at nearby Redan High School when they learned of a person who tested positive for an active form of the disease in December. That person was removed from the school and successfully treated. The results of the Redan testing have not yet been completed, Elisa said.

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