Case of Tuberculosis Confirmed at Beechview School

Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Public Schools have confirmed a case of tuberculosis at Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8 school in Beechview.

Both Pittsburgh Public Schools and the Allegheny County Healthy Department (ACHD) issued a joint statement saying the case involved a student. The county health department said the student is not currently at school.

Both the school district and health department have begun identifying who may have been exposed to the student, with assistance from the student’s family and school district staff, and have begun contacting those who may be at risk.

The ACHD recommended all students at Pittsburgh South Hills 6-8 get screened for tuberculosis, although the joint statement said the risk of infection is “minimal.” ACHD will be offering free TB screening, with consent from the parent or guardian, on Tuesday, Feb. 17. The health department said, if a student tests positive, further evaluation will be required, including a chest x-ray.

ACHD and school district staff met with the faculty and staff of Pittsburgh South Hills, Pittsburgh Concord and Pittsburgh Brashear High School on Monday afternoon, Feb. 9.

A parent meeting for parents and families of students who attend all three schools has been scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Brashear High School auditorium. Allegheny County Healthy Department Director Dr. Karen Hacker and PPS Superintendent Linda Lane are expected to attend the meeting.

“Our main priority is to provide facts and testing as needed to keep the community safe and healthy,” Hacker said in the release. “While tuberculosis is transmitted through the air, someone can only catch it by being in very close contact with a contagious individual for an extended amount of time.”

The release said symptoms of tuberculosis include weight loss, fever, night sweats and a cough that lasts longer than three weeks.

For more information and to read the news releases from the ACHD and school district, visit Pittsburgh Public Schools’ website.