Health officials identified a single case of tuberculosis at the Olathe Northwest High School at the start of the month. Isolation precautions have been enforced but a school-wide test showed a number of people still tested positive for TB.
Still, that's good news. Olathe Northwest had over 300 students and staff tested, yet just 27 individuals tested positive. Of course, it would have been better if no one else acquired TB but the small number means the situation will be easier to handle. Those who tested positive were given calls Monday while those who tested negative will be receiving letters in their homes.
"The number of individuals with TB infection does not exceed what we would anticipate in this setting," said Lougene Marsh, Department of Health and Environment director for Johnson County, adding that even those who might not have had close contact with the first case were also tested to be thorough.
A TB infection is not always easy to identify because some people don't exhibit symptoms. TB infection is also not contagious. For those who do though, a bad cough lasting three weeks or more, fatigue, weakness, chest pains and coughing up blood are signals to go to the doctor to get tested.
Those who tested positive for TB in Olathe Northwest will be made to take chest x-rays. Their treatment will begin with a round of antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria responsible for the disease and prevent further development. The chest x-rays and drugs necessary for treatment will be provided for free by the Kansas and Johnson County Departments of Health and Environment.
Marsh explained that early identification is crucial to beating TB. Early identification allows for early treatment, preventing progression so the disease does not take hold. This is the reason the KDHE and JCDHE are working closely together with Olathe Northwest, investigating the case to determine the cause and ensuring all precautions are in place to guarantee the safety of everyone not just in the high school but also the rest of the community.
"TB infection is different from TB disease. TB infection is not contagious, people do not have symptoms and are not sick. TB infection must be present for TB disease to develop. TB disease is contagious, people show symptoms of coughing for longer than 3 weeks and the coughs are productive coughing up mucus, sputum and sometimes blood. TB infection can be prevented from becoming TB disease by undergoing a round of antibiotic treatment that lasts for 3-9 months. Any individuals who have tested positive are receiving treatment free of charge from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the Johnson County Department of Health and Environment," Sara Belfry, communication director of Kansas Department of Health and Environment said in an emailed statement to Tech Times.
Those who have been identified as having been exposed to TB during the year's spring semester will undergo blood tests again. A second test is required because the bacteria can take up to eight weeks before fully developing, allowing detection.
TB is one of the deadliest diseases in the world. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that up to a third of the global population has been infected. In 2013, about 1.5 million deaths were associated with the disease.
Photo: Thom Chandler | Flickr
