Tuberculosis outbreak, Tallahassee, Florida (Academy of Academics and Technology)

[Ian David]

GLIDE Number: EP-20070202-9673-USA
Date / time: 02/02/2007 07:35:12
Event: Epidemic Hazard
Area: North-America
Country: USA
State/County: Florida
City: Tallahassee
Number of Deads: None or unknow
Number of Injured: None or unknow
Damage level: Minor

DESCRIPTION
Leon County health officials have identified an active tuberculosis infection in a student who attended the Academy of Academics and Technology in Tallahassee. Dr. Marjorie Kirsch, medical director of the county Health Department, said today that the student, whose name is being withheld for privacy, has not attended school for multiple reasons since the illness began this past fall. "The disease was reported to us Tuesday by a healthcare provider," Kirsch said. "We want to notify all the people the student has been in contact with." Superintendent Jackie Pons and Inez Henry, principal of the Academy of Academics and Technology, were in a meeting and could not be reached for comment. Leon County Schools officials are getting the word out to parents to assure them they're working closely with the Health Department, said district spokeswoman Raine Smallridge. "We're following their lead and doing everything we can to notify everyone," she said. Kirsch said it was fortunate that the infected student has not attended school for the past several months because her absence cuts down the risk of spreading the disease. "What people don't know is that tuberculosis is not as easy to spread as the common cold or flu," she said. "You can't catch it just by passing an infected person in a hallway. You have to be in prolonged exposure in close approximation in a closed room."

Kirsch said there's no guarantee that anyone exposed to TB will actually become infected with the disease. The average person, once infected, has a 10 percent down to 1 percent chance of becoming ill, she said. "Tuberculosis has not gone away. It is still fairly rare, and we don't generally publicize cases," Kirsch said. "But we're addressing this because of the recent concern over Gadsden County cases. There is no evidence these cases are related to the Leon County case. It is a scary disease, but the very good news is that we have excellent medications to treat it these days." A meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Friday in the front lobby of the Howell Center, 3359 W. Pensacola St. Parents are invited to attend. Also, parents can call the Health Department at 487-3162 for more information. If you call, ask for the TB office.

More:
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/woalert_read.php?lang=eng&id=9673

[izzie]

1. Makes one think of the days of TB hospitals.

They just may have to put people in them for this new type TB I am thinking but it would be hard in this day and age.

[Benhurst]

2. Life in a Third Word country is difficult,

even one which goose-steps around the world claiming to be The World's Only Superpower.