Active tuberculosis confirmed in Elk Grove High School student, health office says
An Elk Grove High School student was recently diagnosed with active tuberculosis, Sacramento County health officials announced this week.
Parents of all students potentially exposed have been notified via mail, the county health office said in a Monday news release.
County health officials will test students and staff who shared a classroom with the student who contracted the bacterial infection. That student is currently in isolation at home.
Exposure “must be close and prolonged for others to become infected with this germ,” county health officials said in the news release.
“Public Health is working closely with school officials to proactively investigate and screen any potential exposures,” county health officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said in a statement. “The risk of contraction for students and staff is low.”
Active tuberculosis is rare in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recorded 7,860 total cases nationwide in 2021 and 7,174 in 2020. California recorded 1,705 new cases of tuberculosis in 2020, according to the California Department of Public Health, which is about 4.3 cases for every 100,000 residents.
Officials in 2016 detected an active case at the University of the Pacific’s Sacramento campus. In spring 2015, school district and health officials reported one active tuberculosis case at each of two Elk Grove campuses: Franklin High School and Florin High School.
Active tuberculosis typically affects the lungs. Symptoms include coughing, fever, chest pain, chills, fatigue and weight loss.
Infections are treatable. Those who contract active tuberculosis must take antibiotics for several months.
This story was originally published September 20, 2022 at 10:27 AM.
