Case of Tuberculosis Reported at Apollo High School

Officials at Apollo High School are dealing with a case of tuberculosis.

The school district released a statement saying a person at the school has been confirmed to have TB.  They say the individual is considered to be a low risk for infectiousness and has no symptoms, and no other cases have been reported.  They say the situation is not considered to be an immediate risk to public health.  The people who have been identified as at risk for exposure to TB have been contacted.  If you have not been contacted, you’re child is not at risk.

You cannot get TB from shaking hands or sharing food.  If a person has TB in their lungs coughs, sneezes, or talks, the TB germs can be sprayed into the air.

Resources

More information about Tuberculosis from the CDC

News Release from the District:

Brief Description:

A person at Apollo High School has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis (TB) disease. TB is a bacteria that can be spread through the air. You cannot get TB from shaking hands or sharing food. If a person who has TB in their lungs coughs, sneezes, or talks, the TB germs can be sprayed into the air. For the TB germs to spread, an individual must have close and lengthy exposure to the person with TB in their lungs. Individuals with this amount of exposure are called close contacts. When a person has TB in the lungs, a contact investigation is started to identify close contacts and to provide screening and treatment, if necessary.

We have reviewed the situation with Benton County Public Health Department to determine which students and staff may have been exposed. It’s important to remember, this individual is considered a low risk for infectiousness and has no symptoms, and no other TB cases have been reported. This situation is not considered to be an immediate risk to public health. The people who have been identified as at risk for an exposure to TB have been contacted and we are following Minnesota Department of Health protocols to deal with their exposure. If you have not been contacted, your child is not at risk.