Tuberculosis Confirmed at Catonsville High School: Officials

>>News Alerts: Subscribe to a free email newsletter: PERRY HALL • OWINGS MILLS • TOWSON • DUNDALK

Several Catonsville High School students may have been exposed to tuberculosis, a contagious respiratory disease, and one person is being treated for the disease, school officials said in a message to parents.

One person is being treated and there is little risk to the larger community, the Baltimore County Department of Health told CBS Baltimore. School officials won’t specify if that person is a student or staff member.

Tuberculosis can affect a person’s lungs, brain, kidneys and spine, according to the Centers for Disease Control. It can be fatal and is spread through the air, such as when a person coughs or sneezes. It is treatable with medications.

Symptoms of tuberculosis are: cough for more than three weeks; fever or chills for more than three weeks; night sweats; unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more; or if an individual has had tuberculosis or been treated for the disease, or coughs up blood, the health department says.

People who were in contact with the tuberculosis patient have been identified and will be tested. The health department says someone must be in close contact for an extended amount of time with a TB patient in order to become infected.

Parents of Catonsville High School students were notified of the tuberculosis case via an automated phone call Wednesday night, reports The Baltimore Sun, and a letter will be sent home with students Thursday from school principal William Heiser.

Once a person has been tested for TB at a county health center they can return to work or school, the Sun reports. Test results should be received within a day or two.

Anyone with questions about tuberculosis can call the Department of Health at 410-887-2711.