Someone from La Plata High School in Maryland has been diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), officials at the Charles County Department of Health announced Wednesday.
Officials did not specify whether the sick person was a student or staff member, or was affiliated with the school in another way.
School officials sent a letter home to all parents Tuesday.
The health department said it's working with La Plata High School and Charles County Public Schools to identify those who should be tested for TB. La Plata students, teachers and staff members who may have had prolonged exposure to the patient will get exposure letters and a testing consent form via email and regular mail early next week, officials said.
Anyone who gets a letter will receive a free TB test at La Plata High School. Those who don't receive letters or emails don't need to be tested at this time, officials said.
Health officials say tuberculosis, a bacterial illness, is spread through the air, usually by coughing or sneezing. "Generally, a person must have prolonged exposure to the person with TB in order to breathe in a sufficient number of TB germs to cause a TB infection," Charles County health officials said in a release.
TB can't transmitted by touch or by sharing eating utensils. It responds well to proper medical treatment, officials said.
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Anyone with questions should speak with his or her doctor or contact the Charles County Department of Health's Communicable Disease Control Program at 301-609-6900, ext. 6025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays.
Charles County officials say more information about TB is available on their website. A fact sheet is also available on the school system website here.
