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NORTH WINDHAM, CT (WFSB) – A case of tuberculosis has been confirmed at a school in North Windham.
Windham Public Schools said the case had been confirmed at the Charles H. Barrows STEM Academy.
A letter was sent Wednesday to parents to inform them of the establishment of an action plan, in accordance with guidelines from the Department of Public Health and local health authorities.
"The affected person is being treated and there is no risk of further exposure for students or staff at this time," wrote Patricia Sulk, Health Director of the Department of Health North Central District and Principal Director Timothy Maclure.
The letter informed parents that it usually takes 8 hours of close contact in a small room for TB to be passed on.
"A healthy person can not get TB from an occasional exposure, such as going to a room or cafeteria for an hour," said Sulk and Maclure.
Both said that the risk of another child getting infected as a result of exposure was very low.
However, public health officials recommend testing all students and staff participating in a class or extracurricular activity with the individual during the period of exposure.
"If the test is indicated for your child, you will be contacted by another letter next week," wrote Sulk and Maclure.
They said that tests are recommended now and in 8 to 10 weeks.
District officials said that although families may choose to have this test performed by the provider or doctor of their choice, a clinic will be held May 28-29 in Barrows during school hours.
A national expert said that tuberculosis is a bacterium that can spread but is hard to catch.
"Tuberculosis is not so contagious, so we are not talking about measles.It needs to be exposed to a sick person for a prolonged period.Most healthy people exposed to a person with TB will not be infected, "said Lynn Sosa, coordinator of the TB control program for the state's Department of Public Health.
Coughing, weight loss, night sweats and fever are just a few of the symptoms.
"Representatives of [DPH and the local health district] "The public schools in Windham have written on their website and they will join the school officials to organize a community information forum on health schools on Thursday May 23rd at 6pm". We invite all families to attend who wish to obtain additional information. "
The Ministry of Public Health said it was coordinating an intervention with the North Central District Health District and the Windham Public Schools to identify people who may have recently been exposed to TB.
"Together with the local health officials, we determined that there is currently no exposure to TB in the school," said Dr. Lynn Sosa, TB Program Coordinator and Deputy Epidemiologist for TB. the State for DPH. "More information will be provided to parents next week specifically on priority people for whom it is recommended that they be screened for the disease. School and health officials will also provide parents with an information meeting to answer any questions or concerns, including when testing will be provided. There are very few cases of tuberculosis reported each year, but it is a public health problem that we take very seriously, together with our local frontline partners in the area of health. "
You will find more information about TB, including state guidelines, on the Public Health Department's website, here.
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