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« Update: Hasselbeck returns to View, with Taylor / Video | Today | URI hoop team climbs to 22nd in AP poll » January 7, 2008TB case reported in Central Falls High School studentA Central Falls High School student has an active case of tuberculosis, the state Health Department announced this afternoon. A skin test that detects tuberculosis will be done on all students and staff identified as having had close contact with the student, the department said in a news release. The department consulted with the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on the matter. All juniors and seniors will be tested as well "out of an abundance of caution." Students and staff will be re-tested in 10 weeks because a person recently exposed to tuberculosis may not test positive for several weeks. The student with tuberculosis is receiving medical treatment and is recovering. Tuberculosis is an infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, spreading through the air from a person with an infection usually found in the person's lungs. The bacteria can cause two kinds of illness, an active form (active TB disease) and a latent form (latent TB infection). When infected, the bacteria commonly cause disease in the lungs but can also cause disease elsewhere in the body. The symptoms of active TB depend on where the infection is but usually cause a person to have a collection of symptoms: unexpected weight loss, night sweats, weakness or fatigue, loss of appetite, persistent coughing (more than three weeks and sometimes with blood), shortness of breath. The Health Department was notified of the case on Thursday. “The uniqueness of the case being in a school with active TB has led the Department to recommend the testing of students and staff who had close contact with the student and out of an abundance of caution all juniors and seniors,” Dr. David R. Gifford, Health Department director, said in the statement. “People who have had close contact with this student have a low, but real, risk of getting TB. We want to ensure that we prevent the spread of TB in the school.” Central Falls Schools Supt. Frances Gallo said the first concern is students' health and safety."We are working collaboratively with the Department of Health on this response.” Read some more facts about TB here. Posted by Mike McKinney Commentschris | January 8, 2008 6:54 AM link No, Chris they don't. As as a result we get to waste taxpayer money taking care of a disease that was largely eradicated in this country decades ago. Greg | January 8, 2008 8:05 AM link I thought that everyone entering school had to produce an immunization record. I have to produce one and a physical form every year for my daughter to participate in sports. Heather | January 8, 2008 10:03 AM link Heather, these are the same people that had a source at the DMV that was providing them with 'legitimate' licenses. How difficult do you really think it is for them to acquire simple, easily forged documents like immunization records? Greg | January 8, 2008 10:13 AM link The student in question has had it for several months and the health dept knew all about it. The student is not an illegal either. But a good kid. So stop bashing Central Falls not all residents of the city are bad. booger | January 9, 2008 10:31 PM link Post a commentPlease be civil. Vicious comments, personal attacks and profanity won't be published. Name and email are required; email address will not publish. |
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ProJo 9 to 5 News Blog
Oct 2005 - March 2006
Given the fact that many children in our school systems are illegal, do these children go through a health screening before entering our schools?