JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Florida Department of Health in Duval County is looking into an active case of Tuberculosis at Eugene J. Butler Middle School after a student was hospitalized with the infectious disease, officials announced Thursday.
School officials and families of students have been warned, the agency said. Anyone exposed to TB will be checked out and treated if they're infected.
"We are working closely with the school district to ensure the health and safety of students and staff," said Dr. Kelli Wells, director for the Duval County Health Department. "This public health response is anchored by an investigation that is an important part of the protection of everyone involved."
TB is a disease caused by germs spread from person to person in close contact through the air, the health department said. TB germs are put in the air when a person infected with the disease coughs, sneezes, speaks or sings. Person who breathe in the air containing the germs can become infected.
The disease usually affects the lungs, but could also cause symptoms in other parts of the including, including feelings of weakness, weigh loss, fever and night sweats. Other symptoms include coughing, chest pain and coughing up blood.
There were two active cases of TB reported at Andrew Jackson Senior High School last November.
To learn more, visit the CDC.
Concerned Parents
Some parents of children at Eugune Butler Middle School say they're so concerned about the confirmed Tuberculosis case, they're taking their kids out of school early, and keeping them away.
"I had to come and pick my daughter up and take her to the doctor," said Melva Moore. Her daughter's in 6th grade at Butler Middle.
"It's a big concern to me because it's a bad disease," she said. "I understand it's something that causes a great deal of concern, but we're working hard to get the information into the hands of those that need it," said Dr. Kelli Wells, the Director of the Department of Health in Duval County.
The Department of Health is working to notify and test those that were in close, prolonged (more than 8 hours) contact with the student at Butler Middle. Wells says that's less than 50 people.
"We start with very, very close contacts, then we identify those non family members close enough to require testing," she said.
Wells says those that have been identified as needed for testing will be notified int he next day or so. If you have questions, you can call the Department of Health in Duval County. That number is (904) 253-1620.
