200 students, staff, faculty to be tested in possible Lafayette High TB case

Posted: Dec 12, 2012 2:51 PM by Tonya LaCoste
Updated: Dec 12, 2012 2:54 PM

The Office of Public Health, working with Lafayette High School administrators, have identified 200 students, faculty and staff who may have been exposed to someone at the school who possibly has tuberculosis. "We try to identify close contacts," Dr. Tina Stefanski with the Department of Health and Hospitals. The school and DHH are taking preventative steps to deal with the possible TB case.

Early next week, DHH will be at Lafayette High those who could have potentially been exposed. The blood tests results will be available either late next week or early the following week. Testing can't happen any earlier than next week, because it would be too early to run tests. "We look at exposure time and choose the right time to test," Stefanski said. Based on all of the information they have, next week is the optimal time to test, she said. Lafayette High administrators will send letters home to parents whose children will be tested.

TB is spread through prolonged contact in a closed environment with someone who has a confirmed case of TB. "It's not spread as easily as the flu," Stefanski said. Students who choose to be tested by a private provider must provide results to DHH.