Tuberculosis Case Linked To Darien D61

DARIEN, IL – A person associated with Darien School District 61 tested positive for tuberculosis, an official said Wednesday.

Superintendent Robert Langman said the DuPage County Health Department informed the district last week that the person had contact with people at Lace and DeLay elementary schools.

"We worked to get contact information to (the health department), so they can contact families and employees and conduct contact tracing protocol," Langman said in an interview.

Langman said the district would not violate people's medical privacy, but that he has talked with many parents about the issue.

Families received the notifications earlier this week.

Pulmonary tuberculosis, which is curable, is passed from one person to another through the air, according to the health department.

The agency is advising parents of children who may have had contact with the person in question to have a skin tuberculosis test or a tuberculosis blood test as soon as possible.

In a letter to parents, the department said exposure to tuberculosis doesn't mean that their children will develop the active, contagious disease.

But the agency said it could mean that the children now have the germs that remain in a "sleeping" state with the potential to become active years later.

In an email, health department spokeswoman Cailyn Laskowski said her agency would not comment on the situation, citing privacy considerations.

For more information, residents are asked to call the health department tuberculosis program at 630-682-7400, ext. 7522.