Latent TB Outbreak Has Parents In Longmont Concerned
LONGMONT, Colo. (CBS4) - Public health officials discovered several cases of latent tuberculosis among Longmont High School students, so testing of students and staff will be expanded.
That's according to the director of the Denver Metro Tuberculosis Control Program.
A total of 140 more students will now be screened.
All those students shared classes at the high school with a classmate who first tested positive for the disease earlier this month.
Thirteen students and five staff members were tested after the one student became ill. Some of those tests came back positive.
Those results were of latent tuberculosis, and it's not contagious.
"The most important thing for parents to know is that the risk of their child being affected with tuberculosis is very, very low, but nonetheless if the school recommends that they be tested, they should be tested," CBS4's Dr. Dave Hnida said. "And if the child would wind up getting sick with symptoms of tuberculosis those symptoms would include fever, chills and severe coughing that would last for more than a couple of days."
Concerned parents met at Longs Peak Middle School Thursday night to talk about the medical scare.
