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More than 50 Postive TB Tests at Arnold High School
12/07/09 - 01:21 PM
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More than 50 people at Arnold High School test positive for tuberculosis, just a month after a person at the school was diagnosed with an active case.

“People in my classes have it.  Like my physics class, there’s like four kids that have it,” said Christa Cole, an Arnold High senior.

She is just one of the over 1,000 students and faculty tested.  She and others say they’re anxious, even though she tested negative to the TB skin test. 

“I’m relieved a little bit but then we have to go again in January so we don’t really know if your going to have it or not,” said Cole.

The health department is repeating the tests in eight weeks to make sure anyone whose been exposed is in the clear.  Dr. Dennis Cookro, the interim director of the Bay County Health Department doesn’t think there is a need to panic.

“It’s a little bit less than what we expected.  We were thinking we might get anywhere from 100 to 200 positives,” said Dr. Cookro.

Even those who are carrying the germ, are not contagious and may never develop active TB.  No one at the school right now has had time to develop active TB.  He says most healthy young people will never develop active TB; it’s the people with preexisting conditions that are most at risk.

“Let’s say it was my son or daughter who had a positive skin test.  I would want to know was that indeed a positive skin test and if it was do they need preventative treatment and get that,” said Dr. Cookro.

He says there are often errors in the skin tests.  But for those with a positive test, the next step is a chest x-ray.  Then the doctor will recommend anti- TB drugs. 

“It’s generally months of treatment with the medication.  Most people don’t have a lot of trouble with it but like most medications there are side effects that are possible,” said Dr. Cookro.

The health dept says there is still about 300 students and faculty that need to be tested, which could mean more positive results. 

The health department won’t release who the person with active TB is or if they’re a student or faculty member.  They did say that the person is doing much better.