Palm Springs Elementary Student Diagnosed With Active Tuberculosis

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) - A Palm Springs elementary school student has been diagnosed with active tuberculosis, and county health officials said today they are working to identify classmates and staff who may have been exposed to the illness.

The Cahuilla Elementary School student, whose name was withheld, is expected to recover, according to county health officials, who made the announcement on the last day of classes for Cahuilla's 560 students before summer recess.

"While there is some risk of transmission, that risk is low," said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, Riverside County's public health officer. "We are working together to ensure that anyone who may have been exposed is tested as a precaution."

Letters from the health department have been sent to families and school staff members who may have been exposed, advising them to get tested.

"The testing only takes a few minutes, but can provide students and their parents peace of mind as they prepare for the summer break," Kaiser said.

The TB test is a simple skin test, followed by a chest X-ray if the skin test reads positive.

"While we don't anticipate that any of the student's classmates have contracted TB, we urge parents who receive the letter to have their child tested as a precaution," said Palm Springs Unified School District Superintendent Christine Anderson. "The health and safety of our students is our number one priority."

Tuberculosis is spread through the air during prolonged, repeated close contact with someone who is infected with the bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs.

According to health officials, it is not spread by shaking hands, sharing food or drink, bed linens or toilet seats. Untreated tuberculosis can result in serious complications, but not everyone infected with TB becomes sick.

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--City News Service