After being alerted from the Tarrant County Public Health Department, Legacy administrators quickly made an investigation to determine and stop the possible spread of Tuberculosis within Legacy’s campus.
After Legacy was alerted all potential students who were at risk were offered free testing from the county’s health department.
“Our concern is the safety of our students,” Assistant Principal John Contreras. “As soon as they notified us we immediately sent out the letters.”
The letter from Principal David Wright states, “The risk of contracting TB is very low. However the district and the TCPHD feel it is important to err on the side of caution.” Although significant exposure is required to contract Tuberculosis, it was strongly advised that all students at risk be tested.
“This is a health issue.” Contreras said. “We have to do what we can do to minimize the health risk.”
Students known to be in direct contact with the infected student were identified and instructed on TB testing procedures.
MISD INFO ON TB CASE AT LEGACY HIGH SCHOOL
What is TB?
TB is short for a disease called tuberculosis. TB is spread through the air from one person to another. TB germs are passed through the air when someone who is sick with TB disease of the lungs or throat coughs, speaks, laughs, sings, or sneezes. Anyone near the sick person can breathe TB germs into their lungs.
TB germs can live in your body without making you sick. This is called latent TB infection. This means you have only inactive (sleeping) TB germs in your body. The inactive germs cannot be passed on to anyone else. However, if these germs wake up or become active in your body and multiply, you will get sick with TB disease.
When TB germs are active (multiplying in your body), this is called TB disease. These germs usually attack the lungs. They can also attack other parts of the body, such as, the kidneys, brain, or spine. TB disease will make you sick. People with TB disease may spread the germs to people they spend time with every day.
How do I know if I have been infected with TB germs?
If you have been around someone who has TB disease, you should go to your doctor or your local health department for tests.
There are two tests that can be used to help detect TB
infection: a skin test or a special TB blood test. The skin
test is used most often. A small needle is used to put some
testing material, called tuberculin, under the skin. In 2-3
days, you return to the health care worker who will check
to see if there is a reaction to the test. In some cases, a
special TB blood test is given to test for TB infection. This
blood test measures how a person’s immune system reacts
to the germs that cause TB.
To tell if someone has TB disease, other tests such as chest x-ray and a sample of sputum (phlegm that is coughed up from deep in the lungs) may be needed. | SOURCE CDC |
Drew Gassiot • May 22, 2009 at 6:44 am
Everyone getting testes would be a long arduous, expensive process. Everyone would have to get a skin test, which is basically a shot. If tb is positive your skin reacts by swelling. With that many, there would possibly be a few false positives, that would lead to chest X-Rays and other expensive testing methods. Since it is difficult to pass on to another person, just testing those close to him is the best form of action.
Rita • May 21, 2009 at 7:51 pm
“It takes prolonged and close contact with a sufferer to contract the disease (TB).”
I think testing only those at high risk of exposure is appropriate. If very many of them test positive, then rethink testing more students. I would suggest that if you or your parents are very concerned, go to your physician and have them test you. I do not believe there is reason to panic and spend thousands of $ testing the whole school. TB is just not that easy to contract. jmo
sara • May 21, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I think everyone in Legacy should be test because we all go to school together and who knows if you’ve have been in contact with someone who was in direct contact with the person who has TB. I mean just be safe. we should all get tested for it.