The county health department announced there was an active case of tuberculosis reported at San Benito High School, according to a statement released Thursday morning.
According to that statement:
A person associated with San Benito High School was recently reported to Public Health Services as having active tuberculosis (TB). Public Health Services is conducting an investigation to identify possible TB infection in those who may have been exposed at the school. Public Health Services is working closely with San Benito High School to coordinate appropriate identification and TB skin testing.
The TB germ is commonly spread through the air from a person who has active TB disease in the lungs.  Through coughing, sneezing, speaking, or singing, the germs can stay in the air for some hours, particularly in small, closed environments with poor ventilation. Only those who are in close regular contact with such a person over a prolonged time may be at risk of exposure to the germ.  With such exposure, a person may become infected; the immune system will generally control it and produce a positive TB skin test. Such people have latent TB infection, are not sick, and cannot spread TB to others. TB disease and infection are treatable and curable.
San Benito County regularly has from one up to three or four cases of active TB disease reported per year. California has over 2000 cases reported per year.
In line with the mission of public health to prevent disease and protect from health hazards, communicable disease investigation, such as for TB, is a regular public health activity. Â Public Health Services has a scripted telephone message line for anyone with questions regarding TB exposure at (831) 637-7945. Â For additional information on TB, please go to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website at http://www.cdc.gov/tb/publications/factsheets/general/tb.htm or your medical provider may also have information.
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