Tuberculosis testing taking place at Plant City High

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

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Health workers have confirmed a case of tuberculosis at the school.

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY (Bay News 9) -- Although the H1N1 virus has dominated the news, it is not the only disease Bay area health officials are keeping an eye on.

Today, tuberculosis testing is scheduled to take place at Plant City High School. Health workers have confirmed a case at the school.

Hillsborough County Health Department workers will perform TB skin tests on about 300 students and employees at the school. Officials said they expect to find some positive results.

Department public health manager Jylmarie Lewis said the focus will be on people who had close contact with the infected person.

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"We do expect we will see positives,' she said. "And with that the health department can do an evaluation and determine if there is any treatment that prevents the person from coming down with the TB disease."

Officials said TB can spread from person to person by air. The disease can be fatal if not treated but is not considered as dangerous today as in the past. Tuberculosis was once the leading cause of death in America.

Health and school officials will not comment on if the infected person is a student or employee.

Test results likely will take three days.

Officials said anyone infected may have to begin a medical program that includes nine months of taking pills.

According to the Center for Disease Control, TB normally attacks the lungs but can be in the kidney, spine and brain if not treated properly.

In May, a case was confirmed at Armwood High School and two cases were found at schools in Manatee County in April.

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