Active Tuberculosis Case Identified At Joppatowne High School

HARFORD COUNTY, MD ? An active tuberculosis case has been confirmed at Joppatowne High School.

Parents, guardians and staff all were alerted to the situation Monday by the Harford County Health Department, which is working with the Maryland Department of Health on contact tracing. The health department will provide testing and free treatment if necessary.

All parents, guardians and staff received a letter and a fact sheet from the health department. The school sent an automated call alerting parents to the situation. WJZ reported it's been several years since there has been a case of tuberculosis inside a Harford County school.

Tuberculosis, or TB, is an infection caused by bacteria that typically affects the lungs. TB infections and the disease are treatable with medication. The bacteria can live in the body for years without symptoms, and once it becomes active, it can begin spreading from person to person. It is estimated that upwards of 13 million people in the U.S. live with latent tuberculosis, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

?TB is spread through the air from person to person after prolonged exposure in an enclosed space. Our investigation is an important step to help prevent the spread of TB,? Harford County Deputy Health Officer Dr. Jamie Sibel said in a news release.

According to the CDC website, ?The general symptoms of TB disease include feelings of sickness or weakness, weight loss, fever and night sweats. The symptoms of TB disease of the lungs also include coughing, chest pain and the coughing up of blood. Symptoms of TB disease in other parts of the body depend on the area affected.?

Elsie Harmon, who currently attends school online, told WJZ that her friends at the school texted her about the news.

"They don't want to go to school," Harmon said.

Sibel told WJZ active tuberculosis disease cases are rare in the United States, so the vaccine for tuberculosis is not required for students to go to school.

"We at the health department are going through a contact investigation and we are identifying anyone in the school with a close contact to the affected individual and we will be testing them and treating if needed," Sibel said.

She also added that community members shouldn't be alarmed by this case.

"One is only at risk if they've had prolonged exposure to the person who has been affected," Sibel said. "So, therefore, this is not a community-wide problem at this time."

However, some parents told WJZ they are concerned about the tuberculosis case and wonder if a vaccine should be required.

"I think tuberculosis is a very serious disease and it can spread most, especially, so I think they should vaccinate the kids," Minister Harmon told WJZ.

For more information about contact tracing, testing or treatment call 410-612-1779 or visit the Harford County Health Department?s website.