Meeting held after student is diagnosed with TB

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

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A 17-year-old student at Armwood High School has been diagnosed with tuberculosis.

TAMPA (Bay News 9) -- Hillsborough County health officials held an emergency meeting Wednesday to discuss tuberculosis at Armwood High School.

The meeting was scheduled after a student at Armwood was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

About 25 people attended the meeting.

According to the Hillsborough County Health Department, the 17-year-old girl first started showing symptoms in March. Officials say tests confirm that she has low amounts of tuberculosis in her system.

The health department says tuberculosis is not spread as easily as influenza.

"Quite honestly TB is so well defined and so well known in the community, we're not really expecting a lot of calls on that one," said Steve Huard, a health department spokesperson.

Dr. Doug Holt, the director of the Hillsborough County Health Department, said they believe the student contracted the infection from a relative who lives outside of the country.

The health department is recommending about 250 people who have had direct contact with the girl be tested.

"Certainly anyone who lives in a home, or spent more than eight hours with this infected person are considered potentially exposed and will be tested," Holt said.

In addition, all students and staff members have been informed of the incident. Notes were also sent home with all students at the school.

More Information

The student who was diagnosed with tuberculosis is undergoing treatment and does not pose a health risk, officials said.

The Hillsborough County Health Department says when it tests a large group of people, as in this situation, as many as 10 percent of the tests may come back positive.

The health department will pay for medication needed to treat any students.

Information about tuberculosis

- Tuberculosis is a treatable airborne infection that is spread by prolonged close exposure in poorly ventilated areas.

- In the United States, an estimated 5 to 10 percent of the population has TB infection.

- In 2008, the number of new TB cases was 4.2 per 100,000 people. In Florida, that rate was 5.0 per 100,000 people. In Hillsborough County, the rate is 5.7 per 100,000 people. Health officials say these numbers represent declining rates of TB.